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View synonyms for

Noel

[ noh-el noh-uhl, nohl ]

noun

  1. (lowercase) a Christmas song or carol.
  2. a male given name.


Noel

/ əʊˈɛ /

noun

  1. (esp in carols) another word for Christmas
  2. rare.
    often not capital a Christmas carol
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of Noel1

First recorded in 1805–15; from French ö, ultimately from Latin (徱ŧ) “bٳ岹”; natal
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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of Noel1

C19: from French, from Latin a birthday; see natal 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“It’s hard to imagine a suit more clearly barred by” the shield law passed by Congress, said Washington attorney Noel Francisco.

From

Another South African, maintenance fitter Noel Goeieman, is worried he may miss his son's wedding in a few weeks if the ship is called out to another mission.

From

The daffodil is one of many bred by the local plant breeder, Noel Burr, but has not been seen for at least 20 years.

From

Noel Clarke has failed in his attempt to strike out the Guardian's defence in his libel action against the newspaper.

From

Company veteran Tim Noel will take charge of the largest health insurer in the US, which has more than 50 million customers, at a critical moment.

From

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More About Noel

What doesNoel mean?

Noel is another word for Christmas, the Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity.

Most Christians celebrate the holiday on December 25, but it is celebrated on January 7 in the Orthodox Church due to the use of a different calendar.

Christmas is also widely observed in secular (nonreligious) ways. Popular activities include the decoration of a Christmas tree and the exchange of gifts.

However, the word Noel is often used in a religious context. It’s possible for people to wish each other a Happy Noel, but the word is perhaps most commonly seen written on things like Christmas cards and decorations.

The word can also be used to refer to a Christmas carol or song (in which case it is not capitalized), but is no longer commonly used this way.

Fittingly, most people know the word from the popular Christmas carol “The First Noel.”

Example: We wish you and your family a joyous Noel!

Where doesNoel come from?

The first records of the word Noel in English come from the early 1800s. It comes from French ö—the French way of saying Merry Christmas isJoyeux Noël.

The word derives from Latin word (徱ŧ), meaning “birthday.” Another name for Christmas is Nativity. Both Nativity and Noel reference the birth of Jesus and ultimately come from the Latin verb ī, meaning “to be born.” The English word natal (meaning “relating to a person’s birth”) is also based on this root.

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What are some synonyms for Noel?

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How isNoel used in real life?

Noel is usually used on things like Christmas cards and decorations. Most people know the word from the Christmas carol “The First Noel.”

Try usingNoel!

Is Noel used correctly in the following sentence?

We gather here today to celebrate Noel, the Nativity of our Lord.

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