: either of the two points on the ecliptic at which its distance from the celestial equator is greatest and which is reached by the sun each year about June 21 and December 21
2
: the time of the sun's passing a solstice which occurs about June 21 to begin summer in the northern hemisphere and about December 21 to begin winter in the northern hemisphere
Did you know?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice usually occurs on June 20 or 21 and the winter solstice on December 21 or 22. In the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed, the solstices are exactly the opposite. For several days around the time of the solstices, the sun's appearance on the horizon at sunrise and sunset seems to occur at the same spot, before it starts drifting to the north or south again. Solstice gets its shine from sol, the Latin word for "sun." The ancients added sol to -stit- (a participial stem of sistere, which means "to stand still") and came up with solstitium. Middle English speakers shortened solstitium to solstice in the 14th century.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebIn the southern hemisphere, a summer solstice simultaneously happens with the South Pole angled toward the sun and the Antarctic Circle. Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Dec. 2021 Solar radiation peaks with the summer solstice on June 21.Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2022 With the summer solstice just two days away, the hottest season is looking as bad for wildfires as officials had predicted. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 20 June 2022 Daylight hours will continue to grow longer through spring, peaking with the summer solstice in June. Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 9 Mar. 2022 Browning noted that Denzel’s birthday this year fell on the summer solstice and the day after Father’s Day. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 Summer solstice brings the peak of the power of light. Amy Bizzarri, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Aug. 2022 The first week in August marks the midway between the summer solstice and the fall equinox. Joan Rusek, cleveland, 1 Aug. 2022 Bals-Elsholz said frying an egg is most likely to happen around June 21, the summer solstice. Layla Mcmurtrie, USA TODAY, 29 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin solstitium, from sol sun + -stit-, -stes standing; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at solar, stand