supermoon

[ soo-per-moon ]

noun

, Meteorology.

1. a full moon that purportedly looks larger than normal when it coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth.

Word History and Origins

Origin of supermoon¹

First recorded in 1975–80 super- ( def ) + moon ( def )

Example Sentences

There is a full moon every month, of course, but supermoons are rarer, happening three to four times a year, from May to August.

From Time

In August 2013, the bore was roughly twice its predicted height, sweeping hundreds of spectators into the water, while the following year the appearance of a supermoon generated another unexpectedly powerful 30-foot wave that injured dozens more.

From Nautilus

It might feel like there’s always a new space event every few weeks—a supermoon in April, the Strawberry Moon in June, and, just last week, planetary conjunction between Venus and Mars.

From Popular-Science

The guidelines proposed by EarthSky suggest any full moon or new moon that’s 224,791 miles or closer is a supermoon.

From Popular-Science

This is the final time a full moon will coincide with supermoon timing this year, but it’s not the closest the moon will get.

From Popular-Science