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

There will be 57 parties on the ballot when polls take place in phases beginning on December 28.

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While Chinese teams have played football eSports at global tournaments in the past, the country is not on the roster for the upcoming FIFAe World Cup, an "eFootball" tournament in December in Saudi Arabia.

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Speaking with New Yorker editor David Remnick at the New Yorker Festival on Sunday, Stewart said he’s “working on staying” at Comedy Central once his contract expires in December.

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The album, which was written in 10 days last December, begins with Allen’s move to New York.

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Despite Vaughan's effort, England were beaten by an innings, just as they were in the third Test in Perth, meaning the Ashes were lost on 1 December.

Read more on BBC

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.