Hanukkah

American  

[hah-nuh-kuh, khah‐, khah-nuh-kuh, khah-noo-kah] / ˈhɑ nə kə, ˈxɑ‐, ˈxɑ nə kə, xɑ nuˈkɑ /

Also Chanukah

noun

1. a Jewish festival lasting eight days, celebrated from the 25th day of the month of Kislev to the 2nd of Tevet in commemoration of the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees following their victory over the Syrians under Antiochus IV, characterized chiefly by the lighting of the menorah on each night of the festival.

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Hanukkah British  

/ ˈhɑːnəkə, xanuˈka, -nʊˌkɑː /

noun

1. Also called: Feast of Dedication.   Feast of Lights.  the eight-day Jewish festival of lights beginning on the 25th of Kislev and commemorating the rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabaeus in 165 _bc

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Hanukkah Cultural  

1. A festival in Judaism that occurs each December. Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Jews (see also Jews) in the second century b.c. over the Syrians, who had occupied their country, and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem) (hanukkah is Hebrew for “dedication”). Observers of Hanukkah light one candle in a candleholder called a menorah each night for eight nights in memory of a legend that, when the Temple was rededicated, its lamps burned, without enough oil, miraculously for a week.

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Usage

Spelling tips for Hanukkah It can be difficult to remember how to spell the word Hanukkah because it has many valid spellings. It is a transliteration, meaning that it’s transcribed from a different alphabet (in this case, Hebrew). How to spell Hanukkah: By far, the most commonly used spelling is Hanukkah—with one n and two k’s. The spelling Chanukah is also somewhat commonly used. But there are also several other spellings that are considered valid, including Chanoukah and Hannukah.

Discover More

Hanukkah was formerly one of the less important Jewish festivals, but today it is celebrated by Jews in many parts of the world — especially the United States, where it overlaps with the celebration of Christmas.

Etymology

Origin of Hanukkah

First recorded in 1890–95, Hanukkah is from the Hebrew word ḥănukkāh literally, “a dedicating”

Example Sentences

My final advice: Do your taxes in January when everyone else is recovering from their Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year celebrations.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

And she relished that romances are often multicultural—Amanda Elliot’s Hanukkah romance “Love You a Latke” hooked her from the title alone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Australian police are investigating a "suspicious fire" after a car carrying a sign celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah was set ablaze Thursday in Melbourne.

From Barron's • Dec. 25, 2025

The family joined a candle-lighting ceremony on the first night of Hanukkah with Netanyahu.

From BBC • Dec. 21, 2025

The one thing that brought back meaning to Hanukkah and Christmas.

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt