new moon

noun

1
: the moon's phase when it is in conjunction with the sun so that its dark side is toward the earth
also : the thin crescent moon seen shortly after sunset for a few days after the actual occurrence of the new moon phase
2
: the beginning of each Jewish month marked by a special liturgy

Examples of new moon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Full and new moons pull the ocean into its highest tides of the month. — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026 There was a new moon, a thin crescent of pale light, shining softly in the sky. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 The moonphase, at 6 o’clock, appears in a fully visible enamel disk rather than the half-aperture of the 8171, with both the full and new moons rendered in meteorite—the latter with a dark PVD coating. — Carol Besler, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2026 This was followed by a new moon in Virgo — a zodiac sign that has everything to do with day-to-day affairs and work routines — which served as the ultimate reset. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for new moon

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of new moon was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“New moon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/new%20moon. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

new moon

noun
: the moon's phase when its dark side is toward the earth
also : the thin curved outline of the moon seen shortly after sunset for a few days after the actual occurrence of the new moon phase

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