December
di-SEM-bur/dɪˈsɛm.bɚ/UKdi-SEM-buh/dɪˈsɛmbə/
- 1The twelfth and final month of the Gregorian calendar year, coming between November and January and containing the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere.
The company releases its annual report every December.
By late December, days in the Northern Hemisphere are at their shortest.
UsageIn December, but on December 25; written with a capital D.
Note
The month can also stand for old age: in Thomas Dekker's The Wonder of a Kingdome (printed 1636), "Decembers cold hand" combs an old man's beard while May still swims in his blood.
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Origin
December comes through Middle English and Old French decembre from Latin december, meaning "tenth month," from Latin decem ("ten") plus an adjectival suffix. It was the tenth month in the Roman calendar.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- December comes through Middle English and Old French decembre from Latin december, “tenth month,” derived from decem, “ten,” plus an adjectival suffix. en.wiktionary.org
- December was originally the tenth month of the Roman calendar. en.wikipedia.org