December

American  

[dih-sem-ber] / dɪˈsɛm bər /

noun

1. the twelfth month of the year, containing 31 days. Dec.

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December British  

/ dɪˈsɛmbə /

noun

1. the twelfth and last month of the year, consisting of 31 days

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Usage

What is December? December is the twelfth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It has 31 days and is between November and January. In the Northern Hemisphere, winter begins in December, while in the Southern Hemisphere, summer begins. A solstice happens in December, often marked on December 21, although the actual day may be December 20, 21, or 22. A solstice is when the sun is the farthest from the Earth’s celestial equator. The Southern Hemisphere experiences its summer solstice, with the sun reaching the southernmost point on the celestial sphere. Naturally, the Northern Hemisphere experiences its winter solstice. Many holidays are celebrated in December, including the Budhhist Bodhi Day, the Jewish Hanukkah (though it can start in November), the Christian Christmas, and the African American Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, while Bodhi Day, Hanukkah, and Christmas are religious holidays, though many people celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas as cultural holidays. Example: December is my favorite month because I can finally take some time off work and be with my family.

Etymology

Origin of December

before 1000; Middle English decembre < Old French < Latin december (stem decembr- ) the tenth month of the early Roman year, apparently < *dec ( em ) -membri-, equivalent to decem ten + *-membri- < mens- month + -ri- suffix (with -sr- > -br- and assimilation of nasal)

Example Sentences

In December, Miller and others decided to punt on tariffs for legacy semiconductors, critical minerals and other products from China, according to people familiar with the decision.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The new change in favour of automatic registration was approved by Congress in December as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorises funding for the US military and its operations around the globe.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

A December amendment to the advisory contract says that if half of Braemar’s assets get sold, the termination payment still triggers.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

In December 2023, he said the company was working on a low-cost EV that would be made in “very high” volume.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

In December, things in Room 26 really began to change.

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney