Honeymoon

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Honeymoon

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun (and verb)

Pronunciation

HUN-ee-moon  /ˈhʌnimuːn/

Definition

As a noun: a holiday taken by a newly married couple immediately or shortly after their wedding; (figuratively) an initial period of harmony, goodwill, and positive relations at the start of a new enterprise, relationship, political tenure, or situation. As a verb (informal): to spend a honeymoon.

Plain meaning

A honeymoon is the holiday that newly married couples traditionally take after their wedding. The word is also used figuratively for any initial period of goodwill or positive feeling at the start of something new — a new government's honeymoon period, or the honeymoon phase of a new job or relationship.

Register

Neutral to warm. Honeymoon is standard in social, journalistic, and political contexts. The wedding honeymoon is warm and celebratory. The political or professional honeymoon period is neutral and analytical — every new government, new manager, or new CEO is observed to have a honeymoon period of goodwill before the challenges of the job make sustained approval more difficult to maintain.