solstice

2 definitions • 2 examples

either of the two occasions in the year when the sun is directly above either the furthest point north or the furthest point south of the equator that it ever reaches. These are the times in the year, in the middle of the summer or winter, when there are the longest hours of day or night:

the summer/winter solstice

either of the two times during the year when the sun is farthest from the equator, about June 21st when the sun is farthest north of the equator and about December 22nd when it is farthest south:

The summer solstice has the longest days, and the winter solstice has the shortest.