Santa
Santa (noun) means an instance of someone dressed up as Santa. Example: “They get some pretty fishy Santas in this mall. The one in the food court right now seems like he might be drunk.”
Word forms
Santas plural, Santas plural
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Can you complete this real example?
They get some pretty fishy _____ in this mall. The one in the food court right now seems like he might be drunk.
Etymology
Derived from Spanish Santa (“saint”).
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for Santa
See all rhymes for Santa →Frequently asked questions
What does “Santa” mean?
The word “Santa” means an instance of someone dressed up as Santa.
How do you pronounce “Santa”?
“Santa” is pronounced SAN-tuh (/ˈsæntə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Santa” in a sentence?
Here is “Santa” used in a sentence: “They get some pretty fishy Santas in this mall. The one in the food court right now seems like he might be drunk.”
What part of speech is “Santa”?
Depending on how it is used, “Santa” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “Santa” come from?
The word “Santa” comes from Spanish. Derived from Spanish Santa (“saint”).
Is “Santa” a common word?
“Santa” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Santa” have?
“Santa” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an instance of someone dressed up as Santa.
What is the difference between Santa and Father Christmas?
They refer to the same figure — a jolly, white-bearded gift-giver in a red suit. 'Santa' or 'Santa Claus' is the American name, while 'Father Christmas' is the traditional British one. Today the two are largely interchangeable, and someone dressed as either fills the same festive role at parties, grottos, and shopping centres.
What is a mall Santa?
A mall Santa is a person hired to dress as Santa Claus in a shopping centre during the Christmas season, posing for photographs and hearing children's gift requests. He is a classic example of 'a Santa' — an individual playing the character rather than the mythical figure himself.
Should 'Santa' be capitalised?
Yes. Even when referring to a person dressed as the character — 'the shopping centre hired three Santas' — the word keeps its capital S, because it derives from the proper name Santa Claus. This holds true in the plural and when used loosely to mean any costumed performer.
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