the solstice on or about December 21st that marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
Origin
1625-35
Examples from the web for winter solstice
At the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, people of the city stayed awake eating pomegranates.
The head is aligned to the summer solstice sunset and the coils may point to the winter solstice sunrise.
The almanac relies on the tropical year, which runs from winter solstice to winter solstice.
The winter solstice is, of course, the shortest day of the year.
Winter officially begins late tonight and this winter solstice will be a rare event.
The winter solstice, by contrast, is the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year.
It is believed fire symbolized the sun's return after the winter solstice or was used to ward off evil spirits.
At the time of the winter solstice, let reason prevail.
It was originally a pagan holiday celebrating winter solstice.
Tonight's lunar eclipse coincides with the winter solstice.
British Dictionary definitions for winter solstice
winter solstice
noun
1.
the time at which the sun is at its southernmost point in the sky (northernmost point in the S hemisphere) appearing at noon at its lowest altitude above the horizon. It occurs about December 22 (June 21 in the S hemisphere)
2.
(astronomy) the point on the celestial sphere, opposite the summer solstice, at which the ecliptic is furthest south from the celestial equator. Right ascension: 18 hours; declination: –23.5°