"Nocturnal" vs. "nightly": same darkness, different shades

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 30/01/2025, 12:44

English.me team member

Nocturnal and nightly. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words relate to the night and describe activities or occurrences associated with nighttime.

What is different?

"Nocturnal" is primarily used to describe organisms, especially animals, that are active during the night and sleep during the day; it's often used in scientific contexts. "Nightly" refers to something that occurs every night or at night and is commonly used in everyday language to describe regular evening occurrences.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Nocturnal

Owls are nocturnal birds, active after sunset.
The campsite was filled with the sounds of nocturnal animals.
Bats are known for their nocturnal hunting habits.

Nightly

She has a nightly routine of reading before bed.
The news is broadcast on TV nightly at 9 PM.
I go for a nightly walk around the neighborhood.