apogee

noun

apo·​gee ˈa-pə-(ˌ)jē 

1

: the point in the orbit of an object (such as a satellite) orbiting the earth that is at the greatest distance from the center of the earth

also : the point farthest from a planet or a satellite (such as the moon) reached by an object orbiting it compare perigee

2

: the farthest or highest point : culmination

Aegean civilization reached its apogee in Crete.

apogean

ˌa-pə-ˈjē-ən 

adjective

Illustration of apogee

• apogee 1

Did you know?

Of Apogees, Climaxes, and Culminations

Apogee is often used in its figurative sense, signifying the high point of a career, endeavor, or state (“she was at the apogee of her profession”). This meaning developed as a metaphorical extension of the word’s astronomical sense, denoting the farthest distance from earth of an object orbiting the planet.

A number of other English words that are synonymous with apogee have followed a similar path of figurative development from a technical meaning. Climax (“the most interesting and exciting part of something”) came into English as a term for a series of phrases arranged in ascending order of rhetorical forcefulness. And, very much like apogee, culmination (“the final result of something”) is also rooted in astronomy: it originally referred to the highest point a celestial body reaches in its daily revolution (for example, the sun’s height at noon).

Synonyms of apogee

• zenith
• pinnacle
• culmination
• height
• peak
• top
• apex

Examples of apogee in a Sentence

shag carpeting reached the apogee of its popularity in the 1970s but is now considered outdated

Recent Examples on the Web

This year's May 31 full moon also happens to fall just 19 hours before the moon reaches apogee — the farthest point from Earth in its slightly elliptical orbit. —Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 30 May 2026

The nearest point is called the perigee and the farthest the apogee. —Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 29 May 2026

Full moons that coincide with apogee are known as micromoons — the opposite of a supermoon — and appear about 12-14% smaller and dimmer than average. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

May's second full moon will occur just before apogee, the point at which the moon is farthest from Earth, according to Old Farmer's Almanac. —Mariyam Muhammad, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French apogée, from New Latin apogaeum, from Greek apogaion, from neuter of apogeios, apogaios far from the earth, from apo- + gē, gaia earth

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for apogee

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

apogee

noun

apo·​gee ˈap-ə-(ˌ)jē 

: the point farthest from the center of a heavenly body (as the earth or the moon) reached by an object (as a satellite) orbiting it compare perigee