moonshine

American  

[moon-shahyn] / ˈmunˌʃaɪn /

noun

1. Informal. smuggled or illicitly distilled liquor, especially corn liquor as illicitly distilled chiefly in rural areas of the southern U.S.

2. empty or foolish talk, ideas, etc.; nonsense.

3. the light of the moon; moonlight.

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moonshine British  

/ ˈmuːnˌʃaɪn /

noun

1. another word for moonlight

2. illegally distilled or smuggled whisky or other spirit

3. foolish talk or thought

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Etymology

Origin of moonshine

1375–1425; late Middle English: moonlight. See moon, shine ¹,

Example Sentences

In math, Ono is known for his work on a range of topics across number theory, from Ramanujan’s congruences to the umbral moonshine conjecture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

The beverage — which, as reported by Ian Douglass at Mel Magazine, borrows its name from a common term for Appalachian moonshine — tends to be culturally derided as lowbrow or gamer fuel.

From Salon • Nov. 8, 2023

In addition to setting up a season-long whodunit around the singer’s death by poisoned moonshine, Pinnock says those flashbacks gave her a visceral understanding of her flamboyant character, who lived for the applause from spectators.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2023

The letters showed that Navalny asked for an eclectic range of items, including, variously, a bottle of moonshine, a balalaika, a staff, two pouches of cheap tobacco, a kimono and a black belt.

From Reuters • Jun. 2, 2023

The sun was coming up, but the moonshine was still bright on the water.

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin