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.
During leap years, the days of the week shift, but the distribution of days of the week remains the same. — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026 Wait a few million years, and the number of days in a year will change, removing the need for leap years altogether. — Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026 Because 2024 was a leap year, Shirilla's petition was late by one day. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 The movement is programmed to account for varying month lengths and leap years for more than a century, while offering a 50-hour power reserve. — Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2026 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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Browse Nearby Words

leap to someone's defense
leap year
leap-year day
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leap year.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leap%20year. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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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