planetary

adjective

plan·​e·​tary ˈpla-nə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce planetary (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, being, or resembling a planet
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

Examples of planetary in a Sentence

a positively planetary new shopping development
Recent Examples on the Web Researchers already know from studying volcanoes that this infusion of sulfur creates a planetary cooling effect that can last two or three years. Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024 To date, 5,500 of these planetary bodies have been discovered. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024 Too many still pursue economic and industrial development without considering the long-term cost to planetary health. 7. Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024 These planetary configurations, aka stelliums, can create specific characteristics that define us and shape us. Lisa Stardust, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024 Earlier this week, a different team of planetary scientists determined that the ice shell on Europa is at least 12.43 miles (20 kilometers) thick. Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 24 Mar. 2024 That effect is unusual even for other kinds of cosmic alignments, such as planetary conjunctions. Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024 Sometime within the next 50 million years, the moon is expected to either crash into Mars or break up into a planetary ring like Saturn's. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024 But other scientists interpret the same observations as evidence of an inhospitable, gaseous planetary composition more like Neptune’s. Elise Cutts, WIRED, 7 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'planetary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of planetary was in 1607

Dictionary Entries Near planetary

Cite this Entry

“Planetary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/planetary. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

planetary

adjective
plan·​e·​tary ˈplan-ə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce planetary (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on planetary

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