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

Bruland, who had her own bookkeeping business, started transferring large amounts of money from the couple's joint account in July 2022, and by December it was virtually empty.

From BBC

It was the first month of job losses since December 2020.

From Salon

At the trial, he gave his date of birth as December 1986, making him 38, but court records suggested he was 41.

From BBC

For Thompson, 20, leaving Angel City would also mean leaving her sister and roommate Gisele, 19, a national team defender who was signed by Angel City in December 2023.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Butler said the government's decision this December on how much to award local councils would be key.

From 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.