December

noun

De·​cem·​ber di-ˈsem-bər 

dē-

: the 12th month of the Gregorian calendar

Examples of December in a Sentence

Her birthday is in late December.

This December was not as cold as the past few Decembers have been.

Recent Examples on the Web

Attorneys for the plaintiffs and defendant signed a stipulation of discontinuance in November, according to a court document filed in December and obtained by Deadline. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Jan. 2026

San Francisco topped Apartment List’s December survey with median rents $3,078 per month. —Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 14 Jan. 2026

The Federal Bureau of Prisons currently estimates his release date to be in December 2030. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

When asked by the Herald how much the new policy is expected to cost Massachusetts ratepayers compared to traditional oil, propane and natural gas, MassDEP Communications Director Lauren Moreschi referred to the state website and the December letter to stakeholders. —Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026

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

Rhymes for December

• dismember
• nonmember
• november
• remember
• september
• ember
• member

Kids Definition

December

noun

De·​cem·​ber di-ˈsem-bər 

: the twelfth month of the year

Etymology

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.