leap year

NOUN

year with february 29

Synonyms

WEAK

bissextile year defective year intercalary year

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The extra accrued time results in Feb. 29 appearing on the calendar every fourth year — leap year — to help the seasons line up.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2024

"Stu was born on a leap year and in 2024 he has an actual birthday, so this will be his 12th birthday," said Miss Chetwyn.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2024

That’s why most of the modern world has adopted the Gregorian calendar and its leap year system to allow days and months to stay in step with the seasons.

From National Geographic • Feb. 26, 2024

It’s Pope Gregory and his advisers who came up with the really gnarly math on when there should or shouldn’t be a leap year.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 24, 2024

“The twenty-ninth of February. She wanted to get married on the leap year because she knew no other woman in her right mind would want to do it.”

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee