nocturnal

[ nok-tur-nl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the night ( diurnal ).
2. done, occurring, or coming at night:

   nocturnal visit.

   Synonyms: nighttime

3. active at night ( diurnal ):

   nocturnal animals.

4. opening by night and closing by day, as certain flowers ( diurnal ).

noun

1. Archaic. an astrolabe for telling time at night or for determining latitude by the position of certain stars in reference to Polaris.

nocturnal

/ nɒkˈtɜːnəl /

adjective

1. of, used during, occurring in, or relating to the night
2. (of animals) active at night
3. (of plants) having flowers that open at night and close by day

nocturnal

/ nŏk-tûr′nəl /

1. Occurring at night.
2. Most active at night. Many animals, such as owls and bats, are nocturnal.
3. Having flowers that open during the night and close at daylight. Nocturnal plants are often pollinated by moths.
4. Compare diurnal

Derived Forms

• ˌnocturˈnality, noun
• nocˈturnally, adverb

Other Words From

• noctur·nali·ty noun
• noc·turnal·ly adverb
• nonnoc·turnal adjective
• nonnoc·turnal·ly adverb
• semi·noc·turnal adjective
• unnoc·turnal adjective
• unnoc·turnal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of nocturnal¹

From the Late Latin word nocturnālis, dating back to 1475–85. See nocturn, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of nocturnal¹

C15: from Late Latin nocturnālis, from Latin nox night

Example Sentences

“My dad was nocturnal his whole adult life. He kept ‘jazz hours’ starting in high school and never looked back,” Jones wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

Making life more difficult are the lethal nocturnal creatures dressed as humans who are a constant threat.

From Los Angeles Times

Analyzing the planet's terminators, or the moving line separating the daylight and nocturnal sides of a given world, the scientists realized that there was tremendous asymmetry.

From Salon

Like that David Fincher movie, “Grotesquerie” wraps its ills in a grimy, nocturnal film, and tops them with a crown of thorns.

From Los Angeles Times

Leopards are nocturnal animals that hunt a variety of prey, including wildebeest, antelope and fish, the Kruger National Park website says.

From BBC

Related Words

• nightly
• nighttime