christmas card: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1neutral
Quick answer
What does “christmas card” mean?
A decorative card sent to friends, family, and acquaintances at Christmas, typically bearing a message of seasonal greeting and good wishes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A decorative card sent to friends, family, and acquaintances at Christmas, typically bearing a message of seasonal greeting and good wishes.
1. A symbolic gesture of maintaining social or professional connections during the holiday season. 2. A collectible item, often with artistic or nostalgic value. 3. In digital contexts, an electronic greeting sent via email or social media.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling follows national conventions for 'Christmas' within the compound. The tradition and associated practices are virtually identical.
Connotations
Strongly associated with traditional holiday customs, social etiquette, and seasonal commerce in both cultures.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects during the Christmas period. Usage outside the season is typically historical or meta-linguistic (e.g., discussing the tradition).
Grammar
How to Use “christmas card” in a Sentence
send [someone] a Christmas cardreceive a Christmas card from [someone]Christmas card from [sender] to [recipient]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “christmas card” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to Christmas-card the entire department.
- They've stopped Christmas-carding each other after the argument.
American English
- Did you remember to Christmas-card the neighbors?
- We Christmas-card our clients every year.
adjective
British English
- The Christmas-card list needs updating.
- It was a perfect, Christmas-card snowy evening.
American English
- We're running low on Christmas-card stamps.
- She designs Christmas-card artwork for a living.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in corporate gifting and client relationship management. 'The firm sends Christmas cards to all its major clients.'
Academic
Studied in cultural studies, sociology, and history as a social ritual and artefact of material culture.
Everyday
The dominant context. Discussing sending, receiving, designing, or buying cards as part of personal holiday preparations.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “christmas card”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “christmas card”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “christmas card”
- Misspelling as 'Chrismas card' or 'Christmascard' (should be a spaced compound).
- Using plural verb with singular collective 'card' in phrases like 'A Christmas card was sent to everyone.' is correct.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, they are posted in early to mid-December to arrive before Christmas Day (Dec 25th).
Yes, e-cards are increasingly common, especially for business or large contact lists, though some consider physical cards more personal.
Common messages include 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,' 'Season's Greetings,' or a more personalised note.
It is a strong social convention, though not a strict rule, to reciprocate if you wish to maintain the relationship.
A decorative card sent to friends, family, and acquaintances at Christmas, typically bearing a message of seasonal greeting and good wishes.
Christmas card is usually neutral in register.
Christmas card: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪs.məs ˈkɑːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪs.məs ˈkɑːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like a Christmas card scene (describing an idealised, picturesque winter scene)”
- “On everyone's Christmas card list (to be universally well-liked)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine 'Chris' mass-producing cards for Christmas. Christmas Card = Chris's mass card project.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL CONNECTION IS A PHYSICAL GREETING (the card embodies and maintains the relationship over distance).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common primary function of a Christmas card?