suborbital

adjective

sub·​or·​bit·​al ˌsəb-ˈȯr-bə-tᵊl 

1

: situated beneath the eye or the orbit of the eye

2

: being or involving less than one orbit (as of the earth or moon)

also : intended for suborbital flight

Examples of suborbital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That would include more buildup of its New Glenn rockets that launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 36, but also its smaller suborbital New Shepard rocket from Texas. —Orlando Sentinel, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2025

Shepard's May 5, 1961, suborbital flight was a success but Soviet Union was still the first to send a human to space, soon after Ham's trip. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025

Blue Origin just launched a first-of-its kind mission to suborbital space. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2025

New Shepard has set the bar for suborbital space tourism. —Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for suborbital

• infraorbital
• postorbital
• interorbital
• periorbital
• supraorbital
• orbital

Medical Definition

suborbital

adjective

sub·​or·​bit·​al ˌsəb-ˈȯr-bət-ᵊl 

: situated or occurring beneath the eye or the orbit of the eye

suborbital fat