honeymoon

[huhn-ee-moon]

noun

1. a vacation or trip taken by a newly married couple (often used attributively).

   After you've said "I do," why not escape to a dream honeymoon in Greece?

   Relax and kindle the flame of passion in one of our honeymoon suites.

2. a period of harmony at the beginning of a marriage.

   After the initial honeymoon, there may be a temptation to let routine take over.

3. any period of blissful harmony.

   Their entire 60 years of marriage was one long honeymoon.

4. any new relationship characterized by an initial period of harmony and goodwill.

   The honeymoon between Congress and the new president was over.

verb (used without object)

1. to spend one's honeymoon (usually followed by in orat ).

   In a few months we’ll be honeymooning in New Zealand, and we can't wait!

honeymoon

/ ˈhʌnɪˌmuːn /

noun

1. 1. a holiday taken by a newly married couple

   2. ( as modifier )

      a honeymoon cottage

2. a holiday considered to resemble a honeymoon

   a second honeymoon

3. the early, usually calm period of a relationship, such as a political or business one

verb

1. (intr) to take a honeymoon

Other Word Forms

• honeymooner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of honeymoon¹

First recorded in 1540–50; honey + moon

Word History and Origins

Origin of honeymoon¹

C16: traditionally explained as an allusion to the feelings of married couples as changing with the phases of the moon

Example Sentences

The grandparents of President John F. Kennedy, who wasn’t yet born, honeymooned there when I was two months old.

Read more on Literature

A “culinary concierge” can, with 48 hours’ notice, arrange any kind of dining experience members want, from a 12-course caviar feast to a re-creation of a memorable meal from a honeymoon.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On his honeymoon, he sent a postcard back to Harvard: “She’s 19; she’s beautiful; and she’s all mine.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The hotel — which hosted both the marriage of the Nixons and the honeymoon of the Reagans — closed for a major overhaul in 1985, but the renovation dragged on, and then the hotel market collapsed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The dancer revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023 after finding a lump in April, the day before going to the Maldives on her honeymoon with fellow professional dancer Ben Jones.

Read more on BBC