December

[dih-sem-ber]

noun

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

December

/ dɪˈsɛmbə /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of December¹

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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of December¹

C13: from Old French decembre, from Latin december the tenth month (the Roman year originally began with March), from decem ten

Example Sentences

Following a brief spell of weak La Nina conditions between December 2024 to March this year, neutral conditions had persisted, but the US National Weather Service declared Thursday La Nina was back.

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Democrats are privately preparing a shutdown lasting several more weeks, CNN reported, if Republicans do not agree to their demands to extend health care subsidies due to expire on December 31.

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The December crash of the Embraer 190 plane killed 38 people.

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She also spoke of her mother being "stressed and on edge" after the defendants turned up at the family home on 7 December 2024, demanding a DNA test.

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Proceedings in Nîmes were effectively a retrial but, unlike the initial trial last December, this case was judged by a jury made up of nine members of the public and three professional judges.

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When To Use

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.