midwinter

American  

[mid-win-ter, -win-, mid-win-ter] / ˈmɪdˈwɪn tər, -ˌwɪn-, ˈmɪdˌwɪn tər /

noun

1. the middle of winter.

2. the winter solstice, around December 22.

---

adjective

1. of, relating to, or occurring in the middle of the winter.

midwinter British  

/ ˈmɪdˈwɪntə /

noun

1. 1. the middle or depth of the winter

   2. ( as modifier )

      a midwinter festival

2. another name for winter solstice

---

Other Word Forms

• midwinterly adjective
• midwintry adjective

Etymology

Origin of midwinter

before 1150; Middle English, Old English; mid ¹, winter

Example Sentences

How were so many otherwise reasonable people pranked into venturing to an empty Brooklyn Bridge Park in the bleak midwinter as 2025 ebbed to nothing, for nothing?

From Salon • Jan. 21, 2026

“And everyone seems so happy—you feel part of a community vibe, and people are more social than in the short, cold midwinter days.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 29, 2025

The ground in November is not as cold as it would be in midwinter so some of the snow hitting the roads will probably melt, though larger accumulations could gather on colder grassy surfaces.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2024

At the other end of the world, scientists living in Antarctica throw their annual midwinter feast to commemorate the longest, darkest night on the continent.

From New York Times • Jun. 19, 2024

He passed a strip-mining works, huge blue arc lights burning in the dim midwinter daylight.

From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman