Indian summer

American  

noun

1. a period of mild, dry weather, usually accompanied by a hazy atmosphere, occurring usually in late October or early November and following a period of colder weather.

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Indian summer British  

noun

1. a period of unusually settled warm weather after the end of summer proper

2. a period of ease and tranquillity or of renewed productivity towards the end of a person's life or of an epoch

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Indian summer Cultural  

1. A period of unusually warm weather in the fall, often following a seasonable cold spell.

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Indian summer Idioms  

1. A period of mild, sunny weather occurring in late autumn, usually following a seasonable cold spell. For example, We had two whole days of Indian summer this year, and then it turned cold again. [Late 1700s]

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Etymology

Origin of Indian summer

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80

Example Sentences

Many people lined polling stations before the start of voting at 7 a.m. to avoid the blazing sun later in the day at the peak of Indian summer.

From Seattle Times • May 24, 2024

Soldado is one of the few 'big-name' players and is enjoying an Indian summer in the latter stages of a hit-and miss-career.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2021

He has enjoyed an Indian summer of sorts ever since he switched trainers to Hall of Fame fighter turned coach Buddy McGirt this year.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 13, 2019

Northern California was enjoying an Indian summer in late October 2003 when Carmen Pack set off with her two young children to find ice-cream.

From The Guardian • Oct. 2, 2018

Most of the Manifest townspeople could be found strolling the grounds of the homecoming celebration, enjoying these days of Indian summer.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool