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

Trouble arguably began with back to back doji candles last August and resurfaced again in December.

From Barron's

However, Super Micro’s gross margin for the December quarter was 6.3%, down from 9.3% in the previous quarter and lower than the 6.5% that management had guided for on the previous earnings call.

From MarketWatch

A December 2025 Visa study found that 71% of Gen Z consumers were more likely to use biometric authentication—more than any other generation.

From The Wall Street Journal

The council voted in December to instruct city agencies to produce those reports within 30 days.

From Los Angeles Times

The New York Post reported in December that Mr. Mamdani had rebuffed an offer to meet with charter school operators to discuss how they can work together.

From The Wall Street Journal