# Xmas

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/xmas
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the holiday

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

Stands for Christmas. You use this informal spelling to refer to the holiday on December 25th.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Christmas. Used as a proper noun to denote the Christian festival or the associated secular holiday period.

- We are going to visit my grandparents for Xmas this year.
- The local shops began displaying their Xmas decorations in early November to encourage early holiday spending.

Usage: Usually capitalized, though lowercase 'xmas' appears in very casual digital writing.

Teaching tip: Some people find this abbreviation disrespectful because it removes 'Christ' from the word, so it is best kept for casual notes or commercial signs rather than formal invitations.

## Examples

- We are going to visit my parents this Xmas.
- The shop window was decorated with bright lights and a sign wishing everyone a merry Xmas.
- While some purists dislike the abbreviation, Xmas has been used in written English for centuries as a convenient shorthand in both commercial and personal correspondence.

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