Her birthday is in late December.
This December was not as cold as the past few Decembers have been.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
November’s modest Leonids (November 17th) and December’s abundant Geminids (December 14th) will yield fainter meteors than October’s Orionids.—Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025 According to trade experts, payments on these new tariffs can be deferred until December 10 but the fees will begin applying on October 14.—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025 Trenton Stewart Stewart was weeks away from his wedding after proposing to his fiancé in December, according to social media posts.—Nicole Young, Nashville Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2025 The conflict came to a head at a Metropolitan Development Commission meeting in December 2021, when the developers were seeking a zoning change needed for the project to move forward.—IndyStar, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for December
Word History
Etymology
Middle English Decembre, from Old English or Anglo-French, both from Latin December (tenth month), from decem ten — more at ten
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of December was
before the 12th century
Middle English Decembre, December "last month of the year," from early French decembre (same meaning), from Latin December, literally, "tenth month," from decem "ten" — related to decimal, dime
Word Origin
In the first calendar used by the ancient Romans, the year began with the month of March. The Romans called the tenth month of the year December, using the Latin word decem, meaning "ten." When the word was borrowed into early French, it became decembre. That was also how it was first spelled when it came into Middle English. In time, however, the English word was changed to match the original Latin in spelling and in having a capital letter.
Share