leap year

noun

1
: a year in the Gregorian calendar containing 366 days with February 29 as the extra day
2
: an intercalary year in any calendar

Examples of leap year in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The leap year’s absence continued throughout the 1980s with the first openworked Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref 25636, as well as ref 25686 which as released later towards the end of the 1980s. — Thomas Wojtowicz, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 Because 2024 was a leap year, spring was a day early, according to News-Press, a part of the USA TODAY Network. — Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2025 The sales outlook includes a 20 basis point impact from the negative effect of an additional day in the leap year of 2024, and a boost of 20 basis points from the acquisition of smart-television manufacturer Vizio, the company said. — Siddharth Cavale and Savyata Mishra, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025 The movement indicates the date, day, month and leap years and has an additional 24-hour scale. — Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leap year

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of leap year was in the 14th century

Rhymes for leap year

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leap year
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Cite this Entry

“Leap year.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leap%20year. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

leap year

noun
: a year in the Gregorian calendar containing 366 days with February 29 as the extra day

More from Merriam-Webster on leap year

Nglish: Translation of leap year for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about leap year

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