Saint Nicholas

proper noun

A 4th-century Greek bishop from Myra, Anatolia, patron saint of children, mariners and the unwed among others, functioning in multiple countries as a gift-giving figure around his feast day of December 6.

Similar
Father ChristmasKris KringleSanta ClausSaint Nick
OriginAncient Greek Ἅγιος Νικόλαος →
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Meanings

proper noun

alternative St Nicholas · alternative St. Nicholas

  1. ChristianityA 4th-century Greek bishop from Myra, Anatolia, patron saint of children, mariners and the unwed among others, functioning in multiple countries as a gift-giving figure around his feast day of December 6.
  2. Santa Claus; a figure derived from traditions surrounding the historical Saint Nicholas who is said to bring Christmas presents to children on Christmas Day.

    No more passion play / On St. Nicholas avenue / I believe in St. Nicholas / It's a different type of Santa Claus

    2004, “Good Friday”, in La maison de mon rêve, performed by Cocorosie

    Synonyms: Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Santa Claus, Saint Nick

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounSanta Claus; a figure derived from traditions surrounding the historical Saint Nicholas who is said to bring Christmas presents to children on Christmas Day.

Similar
Father ChristmasKris KringleSanta ClausSaint Nick
Also see
father christmassantasanta claus

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekἍγιος Νικόλαος
  2. EnglishSaint Nicholas

Calque of Ancient Greek Ἅγιος Νικόλαος (Hágios Nikólaos).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic القِدِّيس نِقُولَا
  • القِدِّيس نِقُولَا (al-qiddīs niqūlā)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Basque San Nikolas
  • San Nikolas4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Bulgarian Свети Николай
  • Свети Николай (Sveti Nikolaj)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Catalan Sant Nicolau
  • Sant Nicolau4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Chinese Mandarin 聖尼古拉 /圣尼古拉
  • 聖尼古拉 /圣尼古拉 (Shèng Nígǔlā)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Czech Svatý Mikuláš
  • Svatý Mikuláš4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Danish Sankt Nikolaus
  • Sankt Nikolaus4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Dutch Sint-Nicolaas
  • Sint-Nicolaas4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Esperanto Sankta Nikolao
  • Sankta Nikolao4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Estonian Püha Nikolaus, Püha Nikolai
  • Püha Nikolaus4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
  • Püha Nikolai4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Finnish Pyhä Nikolaus
  • Pyhä Nikolaus4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
French saint Nicolas
  • saint Nicolas4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
German der heilige Nikolaus, Sankt Nikolaus
  • der heilige Nikolaus4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
  • Sankt Nikolaus4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
  • St. Nikolaus4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Greek Άγιος Νικόλαος
  • Άγιος Νικόλαος (Ágios Nikólaos)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Hebrew ניקולאוס הקדוש
  • ניקולאוס הקדוש (nikulaus ha-kidush)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Hungarian Szent Miklós
  • Szent Miklós4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Icelandic Heilagur Nikolas
  • Heilagur Nikolas4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Irish Naomh Nioclás, San Nioclás
  • Naomh Nioclás4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
  • San Nioclás4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Italian San Niccolò
  • San Niccolò4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Japanese 聖ニコラオ
  • 聖ニコラオ (Sei Nikorao)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Korean 성 니콜라우스
  • 성 니콜라우스 (seong nikollauseu)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Latin Sanctus Nicolaus
  • Sanctus Nicolaus4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Latvian Svētais Nikolajs
  • Svētais Nikolajs4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Lithuanian Šventasis Mikalojus
  • Šventasis Mikalojus4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Norwegian Bokmål Sankt Nikolas
  • Sankt Nikolas4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Polish Święty Mikołaj
  • Święty Mikołaj4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Portuguese São Nicolau
  • São Nicolau4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Romanian Sfântul Nicolae
  • Sfântul Nicolae4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Russian Свято́й Никола́й, Никола́й Чудотво́рец
  • Свято́й Никола́й (Svjatój Nikoláj)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
  • Никола́й Чудотво́рец (Nikoláj Čudotvórec)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Scottish Gaelic Naomh Nicol
  • Naomh Nicol4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Slovak Svätý Mikuláš
  • Svätý Mikuláš4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Spanish San Nicolás
  • San Nicolás4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Swedish Sankt Nikolaus
  • Sankt Nikolaus4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Tamil புனித நிக்கலஸ்
  • புனித நிக்கலஸ் (puṉita nikkalas)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Ukrainian Мико́ла Чудотво́рець, Святи́й Микола́й
  • Мико́ла Чудотво́рець (Mykóla Čudotvórecʹ)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
  • Святи́й Микола́й (Svjatýj Mykoláj)4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Welsh Sant Nicolas
  • Sant Nicolas4th-century Greek bishop, patron of children and mariners
Cite this entry
APA

Saint Nicholas. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Saint%20Nicholas

MLA

“Saint Nicholas.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Saint%20Nicholas. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Saint Nicholas,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Saint%20Nicholas.

Source: Saint Nicholas on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.