moonshine
Americannoun
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Informal. smuggled or illicitly distilled liquor, especially corn liquor as illicitly distilled chiefly in rural areas of the southern U.S.
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empty or foolish talk, ideas, etc.; nonsense.
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the light of the moon; moonlight.
noun
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another word for moonlight
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illegally distilled or smuggled whisky or other spirit
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foolish talk or thought
Etymology
Origin of moonshine
1375–1425; late Middle English: moonlight. See moon, shine 1,
Explanation
Moonshine is the glowing light that comes from the moon, and it's also a common term meaning "homemade liquor." In an old-timey bluegrass song, a character might drink moonshine in the moonshine. While moonshine can simply be a synonym for moonlight, it's often used as slang for bootleg (or illicit) whiskey, as well as a colorful way to say "nonsense." For example, you could say, "I listened to her speech, but I finally decided everything she said was nothing but moonshine." This "without substance" meaning is actually the oldest figurative definition of moonshine, dating from the fifteenth century.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We love this lacquered green dial with diamond hour-markers and a Moonshine gold band, but there are many unique pairings to choose from.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2025
The company said "a burst on a high pressure main" in Moonshine Lane had flooded properties and caused discoloration to some customers' water supply.
From BBC • Jan. 16, 2023
K-pop fans regularly contacted Moonshine on social media to praise the duo for its work, Evers said, and a popular K-pop YouTube channel has interviewed him.
From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2022
The Tennessee cornerback said on social media that if he got an interception against Tennessee Tech, everybody would get two free cookies at Moonshine Mountain Cookies at either of the company's two Knoxville locations.
From Fox News • Sep. 18, 2021
"To-morrow, Moonshine," replied Cockle; "at present just put them out of sight."
From Olla Podrida by Marryat, Frederick
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
