Galilean

1 of 2

adjective (1)

Gal·​i·​le·​an ˌga-lə-ˈlē-ən  -ˈlā- 

: of, relating to, or discovered by Galileo Galilei

Galilean satellites

Galilean

2 of 2

adjective (2)

Gal·​i·​le·​an ˌga-lə-ˈlē-ən 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Galilee

Galilean noun

plural Galileans

Examples of Galilean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The brutal conditions also make Io intriguing to NASA scientists intent on learning more about the innermost and third-largest of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024

Roughly the size of our own moon, Europa is the smallest of the four Galilean satellites and the second closest to Jupiter. —Jay Bennett, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Oct. 2024

Now, four centuries later, Europa, Io, Ganymede and Callisto—known as the Galilean moons—are challenging stale conceptions about where clement, life-friendly conditions can exist. —Nadia Drake, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2024

Humanity’s first good look at the four Galilean moons came with NASA’s Pioneer and Voyager probes in the 1970s. —science.org, 19 Sep. 2024

As a result, the Galilean moons look nothing like dead worlds such as Earth’s own moon. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 May 2024

Above the poem is an illustration of the Jovian system and its four Galilean moons, including Europa. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024

Io is the third-largest of Jupiter's four Galilean moons and is the most volcanically active celestial body in our solar system, with roughly 400 active volcanos, according to the agency. —Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2024

In the coming year, this will be the best time to see the planet: its four huge Galilean moons will be easily spotted in binoculars, and the banded storms striping its face will be visible in small telescopes. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

galileo + -an entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1751, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1638, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Galilean

• adlerian
• caesarian
• cyclopean
• empyrean
• euclidean
• european
• grammarian
• hercynian
• huronian
• jacobean
• kampuchean
• maccabean