honeymoon

honeymoon — noun

IPA/ˈhʌnimuːn/
KK[hˈʌnimˌun]IPA/ˈhʌnimuːn/
  • honeymoonsingular
  • honeymoonsplural

1. A trip that two people take together right after getting married, celebrating th

1.nounA2
Definition

A trip that two people take together right after getting married, celebrating the start of their life as a couple.

Example

After their wedding in June, Defne and Hassan went on a honeymoon to the Maldives.

go on + honeymoon + [destination]

Jenna and Otis spent their honeymoon cycling through the villages of southern France.

spend + possessive + honeymoon + [activity/place]

Common collocations
  • honeymoon suite
  • honeymoon destination
  • honeymoon photos
  • honeymoon couple
Synonyms
  • wedding trip

    less common; focuses on the travel aspect immediately after the wedding

  • post-wedding getaway

    informal; suggests a short, relaxed trip rather than a long planned vacation

Grammar Patterns

go on + honeymoon

spend + honeymoon + in/at [place]

honeymoon + noun (as modifier)

Usage Note

This sense is the word's original concrete meaning. It is commonly used with 'go on', 'spend', or 'take' (e.g., 'they took a honeymoon in Italy'). The modifier form ('honeymoon suite', 'honeymoon destination') is also frequent.

Common Mistakes

We went to honeymoon in Paris.
We honeymooned in Paris.
'honeymoon' as a noun does not replace the verb; use 'went on a honeymoon' or the verb 'honeymooned'.
They made a honeymoon after the wedding.
They went on a honeymoon after the wedding.
The correct verb pairings are 'go on', 'take', or 'have' a honeymoon, not 'make'.

2. The early stage of a new role, administration, or partnership during which peopl

2.nounB2
Definition

The early stage of a new role, administration, or partnership during which people hold back criticism and show goodwill toward the newcomer.

Example

The new mayor faced tough questions as soon as the honeymoon period ended.

honeymoon period — common in politics

Rachid enjoyed a three-month honeymoon as manager before staff complaints about the new schedule began.

enjoy + honeymoon + as [role]

Common collocations
  • honeymoon period
  • honeymoon phase
  • the honeymoon is over
  • enjoy a honeymoon
  • honeymoon with voters
Synonyms
  • grace period

    broader — applies to any situation where rules are temporarily relaxed, not just new roles or relationships

  • trial period

    focuses on evaluation rather than goodwill; suggests the benevolence might be strategic

  • honeymoon phase

    interchangeable with 'honeymoon period'; slightly more common in relationship contexts

Grammar Patterns

honeymoon period

the honeymoon is over

enjoy a honeymoon

honeymoon with [someone]

Usage Note

This metaphorical sense is extremely common in business and political journalism. It nearly always appears with a modifier — either 'honeymoon period', 'honeymoon phase', or alone as 'the honeymoon' in phrases like 'the honeymoon is over'. Distinguish from sense 1: here there is no marriage and no travel.

Common Mistakes

The boss gave everyone a honeymoon after the merger.
The boss had a honeymoon period after the merger.
The honeymoon is experienced by the new leader, not given by them.

honeymoon — verb

IPA/ˈhʌn.i.muːn/
KK[hˈʌnimˌun]IPA/ˈhʌn.i.muːn/

Word family

  • honeymooner
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all four words describe time away from home, a honeymoon is unique in being a celebration of a marriage — it is taken by a couple immediately after their wedding. A 'trip' is the most neutral term: any journey for any purpose counts as a trip. 'Vacation' (American English) and 'holiday' (British English) refer to time off from work, but neither implies a wedding or a couple. 'Getaway' suggests a short, spontaneous escape from daily routine, often informal and relaxed. A honeymoon can be a getaway, but it is never just that — it carries the social and emotional weight of the wedding that precedes it. For example: 'We took a weekend getaway to the mountains' sounds like a break, not a honeymoon; but 'We went to Japan for our honeymoon' makes the purpose clear.

trip ↗vacation ↗getaway ↗holiday ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • honeymoon couple
  • honeymoon destination
  • honeymoon period
  • honeymoon phase

Phrases

  • go on a honeymoon
  • spend the honeymoon
  • honeymoon in/at/on [place]
  • the honeymoon is over

Prepositions

  • on a honeymoon
  • for a honeymoon
  • during the honeymoon

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'honeymoon' first appeared in English in the 1500s, combining 'honey' (sweet) with 'moon' (month). It originally referred to the first month of marriage, which was considered the sweetest period — like honey. By the 1800s the meaning had shifted to the trip the couple takes right after the wedding. The modern metaphorical use (a grace period in a new job or government role) became common in the twentieth century.