Hanukkah

noun

Ha·​nuk·​kah ˈhä-nə-kə How to pronounce Hanukkah (audio) ˈḵä- How to pronounce Hanukkah (audio)
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 Though her family celebrates Hanukkah, Leah has longed to experience a traditional Christmas. EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024 The hybrid name is a combination of both Christmas and Hanukkah and was created as a way to enjoy the best of both holidays. Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024 At a menorah lighting ceremony in December in downtown Detroit for Hanukkah, family members of some of the hostages visited to share their stories with metro Detroiters. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. 2024 Here are five recommendations, including an engaging Hanukkah anthology that scrambles the holiday’s traditions into eight so-bad-they’re-good nights. Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Hanukkah 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Hanukkah.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew ḥănukkāh dedication

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Hanukkah was in 1843

Dictionary Entries Near Hanukkah

Cite this Entry

“Hanukkah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hanukkah. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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.

More from Merriam-Webster on Hanukkah

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!