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

Year of the Snake The first new moon of the lunar calendar fell on January 29, ushering in the Year of the Snake and the 15-day Spring Festival, a big annual highlight in China and for Chinese communities around the world. —Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 1 Feb. 2025

On the Gregorian calendar, Lunar New Year – which lasts from the first new moon to the next full moon – generally falls in late January or early February. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025

Following the lunar calendar, the festival begins with the first new moon of the year and celebrates the turning of winter toward the coming spring. —Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025

Who Celebrates the Lunar New Year? Billions of people across the world celebrate the first new moon of the calendar. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for new moon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

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