Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

once in a purple moon

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.15 in modern English

Syllables: on-ce in a pur-ple -moon
IPA

25

Scrabble Score

17

Letters

4

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

Synonym of once in a blue moon (“rarely”).

Example Sentences

"However, in spite all of our complainings, there was a distinct pleasure in shopping along this street, because once in a purple moon, one did strike a really nice model and so very reasonable, that one wondered how the manufacturer could afford to bring it out at the price."
"Once in a purple moon, it may be necessary for the top men to settle some awful impasse between themselves."
"Again, these usually show up in major currency auctions, only once in a purple moon would a dealer have one in stock."

Phrases

blue moon

Frequently Paired Words

blue moon

Synonyms

rarely seldom infrequently scarcely seldomly uncommonly unoften once in a blue moon

Questions

What does once in a purple moon mean?: Synonym of once in a blue moon (“rarely”).

How to pronounce once in a purple moon

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “once in a purple moon”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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