Definition

A time in the year when day and night are nearly the same length, occurring twice a year when the sun crosses the celestial equator.

Example

The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Conversation

Have you heard about the upcoming equinox?

Yeah, I love how the days and nights are almost the same length then.

It's such a nice time of year, isn't it?

Definitely! It feels like a fresh start with spring around the corner.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Equinox → It is formed from "aequus" (meaning equal) and "nox" (meaning night). The term describes the time of year when day and night are of equal length.

Memory Tip

Think of 'equal' ('aequus') and 'night' ('nox') to remember that an equinox is when day and night are equal in length.

Visually Confused Words