supermoon

noun

su·​per·​moon ˈsü-pər-ˌmün 

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

The November and December supermoons will rise above the northeast horizon before sunset, too. —Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 13 Feb. 2025

Of course, there is nothing supernatural about the supermoon. —Space.com Staff, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025

This month's full moon will also be a supermoon: When the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth than usual, the cosmic combo is called a supermoon. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Nov. 2024

That means there are times when the moon is closer to Earth, and when these times occur around a full moon, that's a supermoon. —Space.com Staff, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for supermoon

• afternoon
• forenoon
• honeymoon
• laocoon
• opportune
• pantaloon
• picayune
• tablespoon
• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon