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blue moon
noun
1
: a very long period of time
—usually used in the phrase once in a blue moon
such people happen along only once in a blue moon—Saturday Rev.
2
: a second full moon in a calendar month
Synonyms
Examples of blue moon in a Sentence
once in a blue moon we'll get dressed up and eat in a fancy restaurant
Recent Examples on the Web
The beer and the actual blue moon come around far more frequently than a total solar eclipse, but the beverage pairs well with the rarest of celestial events.
—Jason Rossi, The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
The second full moon in a calendar month is often referred to as a blue moon, according to the Farmers Almanac.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
And if two full moons occur within a calendar month, which happens every so often, the second one is a called a blue moon.
—Terri Robertson, Country Living, 31 July 2023
Starting off with a special seasonal blue moon on Aug. 19, which will be the last blue moon until May 20, 2027.
—Carlie Procell, The Courier-Journal, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blue moon
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blue moon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near blue moon
Cite this Entry
“Blue moon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue%20moon. Accessed 14 Jun. 2024.
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