moonlight

1 of 3

noun (1)

moon·​light ˈmün-ˌlīt 

: the light of the moon

moonlight

2 of 3

verb

moonlighted; moonlighting

intransitive verb

: to hold a second job in addition to a regular one

moonlighter noun

moonlighter

3 of 3

noun (2)

moon·​light·​er

ˈmünˌlītə(r), 

-ītə-

: one that engages in activity by or as if by the light of the moon: such as

a

: a participant in a night raid

b

: moonshiner

c

: a person holding two jobs at the same time

Examples of moonlight in a Sentence

Noun (1)

A figure appeared in the moonlight.

Verb

She is a secretary who moonlights as a waitress on weekends.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Visibility also depends on cloud cover, light pollution, moonlight, and your geographic location. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026

The moonlight skinny-dip that sets the Great White smorgasbord in motion? — Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026

Verb

Take a classic example like Kartell’s modular Componibili shelving that stacks three tiers of shelving in one slim silhouette and can moonlight in a more spacious room or home office. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2026

All that moonlight over dewy grass and lamplight on Parisian streets create texture for the flawed adults who walk through these scenes, for their misguided sense of propriety. — Literary Hub, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from moonlighter

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing moonlight

• do a moonlight flit

Rhymes for moonlight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

moonlight

1 of 2 noun

moon·​light -ˌlīt 

: the light of the moon

moonlight

2 of 2 verb

: to work at a second job in addition to a regular one

moonlighter noun