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.
When this happens, the second full moon is called a blue moon. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026 Each type of blue moon happens roughly every 2-3 years. John Tufts, IndyStar, 7 Jan. 2026 The year 2026 will feature 13 full moons, including a rare monthly blue moon in May. Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 3 Jan. 2026 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 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 31 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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