constellation

noun

con·​stel·​la·​tion ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the configuration of stars especially at one's birth

2

: any of 88 arbitrary configurations of stars or an area of the celestial sphere covering one of these configurations

the constellation Orion

3

: an assemblage, collection, or group of usually related persons, qualities, or things

… a constellation of … relatives, friends, and hangers-on …

—Brendan Gill

a constellation of symptoms

4

: pattern, arrangement

… taking advantage of the shifting constellation of power throughout the known world.

—H. D. Lasswell

constellatory

kən-ˈste-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Synonyms

• array
• assemblage
• band
• bank
• batch
• battery
• block
• bunch
• clot
• clump
• cluster
• clutch
• collection
• group
• grouping
• huddle
• knot
• lot
• muster
• package
• parcel
• passel
• set
• suite

Examples of constellation in a Sentence

The constellation Ursa Major contains the stars of the Big Dipper.

A large constellation of relatives and friends attended the funeral.

The patient presented a constellation of symptoms.

Recent Examples on the Web

On February 28, Mars will be situated in the constellation Gemini above the southern horizon, Jupiter will be in Taurus, Uranus in Aries, Venus and Neptine in Pisces, and just above the horizon in Aquarius will be Mercury and Saturn. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025

To help spot it, viewers should look towards the south in the evening sky, using the bright star Fomalhaut in the nearby Piscis Austrinus constellation as a guide to locate Aquarius. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2025

Mars On January 21, Mars will be in the east, directly under the constellation Gemini. —Gretchen Rundorff, WIRED, 17 Jan. 2025

In the meantime, SpaceX currently has over 400 cellular Starlink satellites in orbit, but the company envisions expanding the constellation to thousands. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English constellacioun, from Anglo-French constellation, from Late Latin constellation-, constellatio, from Latin com- + stella star — more at star

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

constellation

noun

con·​stel·​la·​tion ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən 

: any of 88 groups of stars forming patterns

Etymology

Middle English constellacioun "the position of the stars in the sky at the time of a person's birth," from early French constellation (same meaning), from Latin con-, com- "with" and stella "star"

Medical Definition

constellation

noun

con·​stel·​la·​tion ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən 

: a set of ideas, conditions, symptoms, or traits that fall into or appear to fall into a pattern: as

a

: a group of stimulus conditions or factors affecting personality and behavior development

the way in which family constellation and handling of punishment influenced this particular boy

—S. B. Sarason

b

: a group of behavioral or personality traits