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 of planetary

• vast
• giant
• huge
• gigantic
• astronomical
• tremendous
• enormous
• massive
• colossal
• mammoth
• monumental
• bumper
• immense
• cosmic
• galactic
• titanic
• mountainous
• oceanic
• monster
• grand
• monstrous

Examples of planetary in a Sentence

a positively planetary new shopping development

Recent Examples on the Web

Goodman taught herself how to make detailed astrological charts, which, in the decades before the internet, involved labor-intensive hand calculations to determine planetary movements. —Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

The scientists tested their new technique by applying it to a planetary system located around 370 light-years away called PDS 70, which astronomers have been studying with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an array of 66 radio antennas located in northern Chile. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 June 2026

Catching The Conjunction June opens with one of the year’s most beautiful planetary encounters. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

Tech executives, investors, and many politicians speak as if a new wave of intelligent machines is about to transform labor—automatically and at a planetary scale. —Christopher Marquis, Time, 30 May 2026

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
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

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