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

The feature seems to work best for open star clusters, such as in the image of M35 and NGC 2158 above, and planetary nebulae like the Helix Nebula below. —PCMAG, 10 Mar. 2025

Created by Dean Devlin, The Ark is set place 100 years in the future, when planetary colonization missions have begun as a necessity to help secure the survival of the human race. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 5 Mar. 2025

Her cold, calculating demeanor and constant desire to be in authority also reflect Capricorn's planetary ruler, Saturn. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025

How to best view the planetary alignment The planetary alignment, if visible, will occur toward the west, after the sun sets. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing planetary

• planetary nebula
• planetary science

Rhymes for planetary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

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