Moonlight is the soft, dim light that comes from the Moon, which is actually sunlight reflected off the Moon’s surface and sent back toward Earth.

Basic meaning

  • In everyday language, moonlight means the light of the Moon that illuminates the night sky.
  • Physically, that light is mostly reflected sunlight, with a small contribution from light the Moon reflects that originally bounced off Earth (called earthshine).

As a verb: “to moonlight”

  • In English, “to moonlight” can also mean working a second job in addition to a main job, often at night.
  • Example: “She moonlights as a musician on weekends,” meaning she has a primary job and does music as extra work.

Extra nuances and usage

  • Dictionaries list “moonlight” mainly as uncountable, for example “walking in the moonlight” or “a moonlight cruise.”
  • Older or extended uses include “moonlight” for the silvery color of that light, or for paintings or scenes lit by the Moon.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.