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

But I'll never forget that one hot Indian summer.

From Salon • Jul. 16, 2022

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

That fall in the false warmth of a Brooklyn Indian summer, Katie sat on the stoop and held her sickly baby against the bigness which was another child soon to be born.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith