meteoroid

noun

me·​te·​or·​oid ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrȯid 

1

: a meteor particle itself without relation to the phenomena it produces when entering the earth's atmosphere

2

: a meteor in orbit around the sun

meteoroidal

ˌmē-tē-ə-ˈrȯi-dᵊl 

adjective

Examples of meteoroid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When many meteoroids encounter the atmosphere at once, it's considered a meteor shower. —Briana Alvarado, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026

Something else that supports the hypothesis that recent meteors have been larger than usual is the prevalence of sonic booms — loud, explosive sounds caused by shockwaves when meteoroids, small rocky or metallic bodies from space, penetrate deeper into the Earth's atmosphere than usual. —Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026

Our hype glances off it and does less than the tiniest meteoroid. —Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026

The debris — space rocks known as meteoroids — collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA. —Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 2 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for meteoroid

• albuminoid
• arytenoid
• cannabinoid
• carotenoid
• epidermoid
• epithelioid
• paraboloid
• subarachnoid
• underemployed
• adenoid
• alkaloid
• amoeboid

Kids Definition

meteoroid

noun

me·​te·​or·​oid ˈmēt-ē-ə-ˌrȯid 

: a meteor revolving around the sun