leap year

noun

1
: a year in the Gregorian calendar containing 366 days with February 29 as the extra day
2
: an intercalary year in any calendar

Examples of leap year 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.
Because 2024 was a leap year, winter was a day early, according to News-Press, a part of the USA TODAY Network. Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025 The origin of the leap year, which adds one day—the 29th—to the end of February once every four years, dates all the way back to 46 B.C. Julian Dossett, Space.com, 29 Feb. 2024 To account for time shifts, not every four years gets to be a leap year. Joyce Orlando, The Tennessean, 29 Feb. 2024 The 42mm platinum case houses an anthracite dial that displays an automatic minute repeating perpetual calendar, mono-pusher chronograph, moon phases, leap year and day-night indication. Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for leap year 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of leap year was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near leap year

Cite this Entry

“Leap year.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leap%20year. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

leap year

noun
: a year in the Gregorian calendar containing 366 days with February 29 as the extra day

More from Merriam-Webster on leap year

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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