planetary

adjective

plan·​e·​tary ˈpla-nə-ˌter-ē 

1

a

: of, relating to, being, or resembling a planet

b

: erratic, wandering

c

: having a motion like that of a planet

planetary electrons

d

: immense

the scope of this project has reached planetary proportions

2

a

: of, relating to, or belonging to the earth : terrestrial

b

: global, worldwide

planetary politics

3

: having or consisting of an epicyclic train of gear wheels

Synonyms

• astronomical
• astronomic
• Brobdingnagian
• bumper
• colossal
• cosmic
• cosmical
• cyclopean
• elephantine
• enormous
• galactic
• gargantuan
• giant
• gigantesque
• gigantic
• grand
• herculean
• heroic
• heroical
• Himalayan
• huge
• humongous
• humungous
• immense
• jumbo
• king-size
• king-sized
• leviathan
• mammoth
• massive
• mega
• mighty
• monster
• monstrous
• monumental
• mountainous
• oceanic
• pharaonic
• prodigious
• super
• super-duper
• supersize
• supersized
• titanic
• tremendous
• vast
• vasty
• walloping
• whacking
• whopping

Examples of planetary in a Sentence

a positively planetary new shopping development

Recent Examples on the Web

Do countries have a legal as well as a moral obligation to prevent a planetary disaster? —Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024

These staging attacks and Illuminate disappearances are too precise and elusive to suggest a full-scale planetary conquest, but their methods and intentions remain a dire enigma. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

The potential of prosocial AI — artificial intelligence designed for human and planetary well-being — offers an innovative, and pragmatic pathway. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

But Part Two told the story of Paul Atreides’s rise to power with a satisfying mix of triumph and gruesomeness, rendering his planetary jihad in awe-inspiring fashion. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing planetary

• planetary nebula
• planetary science

Kids Definition

planetary

adjective

plan·​e·​tary ˈplan-ə-ˌter-ē 

1

a

: of or relating to a planet

b

: having a motion like that of a planet

planetary electrons of the atomic nucleus

2

: worldwide, global

a matter of planetary concern