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Definition of moonshining

moonshining

/ˈmuːnˌʃaɪnɪŋ/
moon · shin · ing
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moonshining Lexical Profile

moonshining Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American The illicit distillation or smuggling of high-proof alcoholic liquor, historically conducted at night to avoid detection by authorities.

Example

"During the Prohibition era, moonshining became a lucrative underground enterprise across rural mountain communities."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for moonshining

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'moonshining' (the illicit distillation or smuggling of alcohol) with 'moonlighting' (working a second job secretly or outside regular hours).

• Nearby Words

moonset
moonshine
moonshiner
moonshining
moonship
moonshot
moonstone

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the compound noun 'moonshine', referring to the fact that the illicit distillation and smuggling of spirits were traditionally carried out at night by the light of the moon to evade tax collectors and law enforcement.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Moonshining. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/moonshining
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