Luna or lunar?
luna is a noun meaning “A luna moth: a member of species Actias luna”; lunar is an adjective meaning “Of, pertaining to, or resembling the Moon (that is, Luna, the Earth's moon)”. Use luna as a noun and lunar as an adjective (lunar is also a noun: “The middle bone of the proximal series of the carpus in the…”). They sound the same (/ˈluːnə/). In written English (wordfreq, 2021 data) lunar is about as common as luna.
What is the difference between luna and lunar?
| luna | lunar | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun | adjective, noun |
| Meaning | A luna moth: a member of species Actias luna A lunette: a crescent-shaped receptacle, often glass, for holding the (consecrated) host (the bread of communion) upright when exposed in the monstrance A foreman on a plantation | Of, pertaining to, or resembling the Moon (that is, Luna, the Earth's moon) Shaped like a crescent moon; lunate The middle bone of the proximal series of the carpus in the wrist, which is shaped like a half-moon |
| Example | On the previous evening we had discovered with delight a luna with the fabulous moons, one on each pale green wing | lunar observations a lunar eclipse |
| Forms | lunas | none |
| Pronunciation | /ˈluːnə/ /ˈlʉwnə/ /ˈlunə/ | /ˈluːnə/ /ˈlʉwnə/ /ˈlunɚ/ |
| In writing | 4.2 times per million words | 5.9 times per million words |
Sources: luna and lunar in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of luna and lunar
luna
- 1
A luna moth: a member of species Actias luna
On the previous evening we had discovered with delight a luna with the fabulous moons, one on each pale green wing
- 2
A foreman on a plantation
- 3
A lunette: a crescent-shaped receptacle, often glass, for holding the (consecrated) host (the bread of communion) upright when exposed in the monstrance
The Bread of Angels is first taken from the tabernacle, where it rests in the luna, and placed upon the altar, covered with a corporal. After genuflecting, the priest puts the…
lunar
- 1
Of, pertaining to, or resembling the Moon (that is, Luna, the Earth's moon)
lunar observations a lunar eclipse
- 2
The middle bone of the proximal series of the carpus in the wrist, which is shaped like a half-moon
- 3
Alternative letter-case form of lunar (“pertaining to Luna, the moon of Terra”)
- 4
Shaped like a crescent moon; lunate
- 5
An observation of a lunar distance (“the angle between the Moon and another celestial body”), especially for establishing the longitude of a ship at sea
- 6
Extremely high
- 7
(Believed to be) influenced by the Moon, as in character, growth, or properties
- 8
Of or pertaining to travel through space between the Earth and the Moon, or exploration and scientific investigation of the Moon
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, luna or lunar?
luna appears 4.2 times per million words; lunar 5.9 times per million words.
luna 4.2 times per million wordslunar 5.9 times per million words
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).