supermoon

noun

su·​per·​moon ˈsü-pər-ˌmün How to pronounce supermoon (audio)
plural supermoons
: a full moon occurring when the moon is at or near the closest point in its orbit
A supermoon … occurs when the moon is full within 24 hours of being at its closest point to the Earth in its orbit.Kaleigh Rogers
Visible supermoons appear 14% bigger and 30% brighter than full moons that occur at the farthest point in the moon's orbit.Karen Hao
As the first and only supermoon of 2017 rose high into the sky this Sunday (Dec. 3), astrophotographers seized the opportunity to shoot the moon in all its bigger-than-usual glory.Hanneke Weitering

Examples of supermoon in a Sentence

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.
The best time to view supermoons is typically just after moonrise or just before moonset, as the moon appears even larger when compared to buildings and landscapes on the horizon. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025 More auroras, supermoons and a lunar eclipse The year is off to a bright start with meteor showers beginning with the Quadrantids, which will peak in the early morning hours on Jan. 3, 2025, according to NASA. Chandelis Duster, NPR, 1 Jan. 2025 The November 15 supermoon was the last one of 2024. Charley Ross, Glamour, 9 Dec. 2024 This month's Hunter's moon is a supermoon, appearing visibly larger and brighter in the sky. Jenny Porter Tilley, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for supermoon 

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of supermoon was in 1979

Dictionary Entries Near supermoon

Cite this Entry

“Supermoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supermoon. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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