blue moon

noun

Synonyms of blue moonnext
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Typically, full moons happen every 29 days, while most months in our calendar last 30 or 31 days, so the months and moon phases don’t exactly align — resulting in a blue moon about every 2 ½ years. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025 Super blue moons can also occur, but don’t be fooled by the name. Callum Sutherland, Time, 6 Oct. 2025 But sometimes, once in a magical blue moon, a star will stray from the norm—and pop up in the most random of places. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2025 But a blue moon isn’t supposed to last for a year. Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blue moon

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blue moon was in 1821

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Cite this Entry

“Blue moon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue%20moon. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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