moonshine

noun

moon·​shine ˈmün-ˌshīn 

1

: moonlight

2

: empty talk : nonsense

3

: intoxicating liquor

especially : illegally distilled corn whiskey

Synonyms of moonshine

• alcohol
• booze
• bootleg
• drink

Examples of moonshine in a Sentence

Everything they said was just a load of moonshine.

during Prohibition, moonshine and “bathtub gin” were made secretly

Recent Examples on the Web

The Carnaval de Guaranda, for instance, takes inspiration from a rowdy annual fiesta held in the Bolivar Province and is made with vodka, hops, figs, white truffle, turmeric, and a local moonshine called pájaro azul. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026

Barthel laments that anti-cannabis laws encouraged growers to develop highly potent strains, just as Prohibition in the 1920s put potentially lethal moonshine into circulation. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 July 2026

To try some of that moonshine yourself, stop by Adventure Distilling Company for tastings and live music in the summertime. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026

Today, Jones and his wife, Peg Hays, use this original still pot design to make award-winning, small-batch mash bill bourbons, moonshines, and more. — Michelle Polizzi, Southern Living, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for moonshine

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• brucine
• byline

Kids Definition

moonshine

noun

moon·​shine ˈmün-ˌshīn 

1

: moonlight entry 1

2

: meaningless talk : nonsense

3

: alcoholic liquor

especially : illegally produced whiskey made from corn

moonshiner

-ˌshī-nər

noun