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dwarf planet
noun
: a celestial body that orbits the sun and has a spherical shape but is not large enough to disturb other objects from its orbit
Examples of dwarf planet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Long believed to be the ninth planet in our solar system, Pluto's planetary status was downgraded to a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union in 2006.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024
Since its discovery in Flagstaff, Pluto has become Arizona's favorite dwarf planet.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024
Like the three moons, this dwarf planet is likely insulated by a sufficiently thick crust that slows the leaking of its radioactive furnace into space.
—WIRED, 24 Dec. 2023
The moon makes a trine to Pluto & a sextile to Neptune
The dwarf planet Pluto’s trine to the moon gives us power to be our own authority and can also bring intense emotions.
—Emily Newhouse, Allure, 22 Nov. 2023
Mike Brown of the California Institute of Technology, who discovered the object Eris in 2003, which led to Pluto’s demotion from a planet to a dwarf planet, has similar concerns.
—Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2023
What astronomers discovered was a complex dwarf planet with a surprisingly varied landscape potted with huge cliffs, deep ravines, enormous mountains all battered by a curious kind of weather with evidence of water plus much more.
—Discover Magazine, 26 Oct. 2023
Which is why the discovery of rings around the dwarf planet Quaoar is such a surprise.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2023
This year, every planet in our solar system will retrograde, including the dwarf planet Pluto.
—Carlie Procell, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dwarf planet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1993, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Dwarf planet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dwarf%20planet. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
dwarf planet
noun
: a celestial object similar to a planet but too small to clear other objects from its orbit
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