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• good night
  good night

  interjection

  an expression of farewell used in parting at nighttime or when going to sleep.
• good-night
  good-night

  noun

  a farewell or leave-taking.

good night

¹ American  

interjection

1. an expression of farewell used in parting at nighttime or when going to sleep.

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good-night ² American  

[good-nahyt] / ˌgʊdˈnaɪt /

noun

1. a farewell or leave-taking.

   He said his good-nights before leaving the party.

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good night British  

1. a conventional expression of farewell, or, rarely, of greeting, used in the late afternoon, the evening, or at night, esp when departing to bed

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good night Idioms  

1. Expression of farewell used when parting at night or when going to sleep, as in He stood at the door, saying good night to each of the departing guests , or Mother came to tuck the children in and kiss them good night . [Late 1300s]

2. Exclamation of surprise or irritation, as in Good night, Joe!—You can't mean what you said , or Good night, Anne—it's time you learned how to throw a ball . [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of good night

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75

Example Sentences

Before the closing goodnights, a title card appeared for Val Kilmer, who hosted “SNL” in 2000 and who died this week.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2025

The moments, called "goodnights," rarely show much more than cast members chatting with each other and celebrities.

From Salon • Mar. 30, 2025

As soon as he judged it was late enough, Van Allen drank up and said his goodnights, bearing north from the pub and walking up a tree-lined road that hugged one side of Hampstead Heath.

From The Guardian • Mar. 5, 2020

Someone who does it all, from opening monologue to topical comedy bits to trenchant interviews to warm goodnights.

From Washington Post • Oct. 31, 2016

The big badger trundled the cart away as they called their goodnights.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques