Hanukkah

noun

Ha·​nuk·​kah ˈhä-nə-kə  ˈḵä- 

variants or less commonly Chanukah or Hanukah

: an 8-day Jewish holiday beginning on the 25th of Kislev and commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after its defilement by Antiochus of Syria

Examples of Hanukkah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The holiday the researchers focus on is not Christmas or Hanukkah. —Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024

As Christmas and Hanukkah coincide this year, let there be lights, writes Eli Federman, a writer and private equity investor. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024

If the blast of cooler air in South Florida hasn't put you in the holiday spirit, plenty of seasonal events are coming up to get you in the mood for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. —Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024

Wishing you all a merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, and an incredible new year. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew ḥănukkāh dedication

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Hanukkah

noun

Ha·​nuk·​kah

variants also Chanukah or Hanukah

ˈḵän-ə-kə,

ˈhän-

: an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrated in November or December in honor of the cleansing and second dedication of the Temple after the Syrians were driven out of Jerusalem in 165 b.c.