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dwarf planet
noun
: a celestial body that orbits the sun and has a spherical shape but is not large enough to disturb other objects from its orbit
Examples of dwarf planet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This means Pluto is not considered a major planet like Mercury or Earth but instead a dwarf planet.
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Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
Although Pluto has since been demoted to dwarf planet, Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a law this year recognizing Pluto as the state planet of Arizona.
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Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 23 July 2024
Bright deposits on the dwarf planet Ceres, the largest body in the asteroid belt, contain sodium carbonate.
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Ars Technica, 30 Jan. 2025
The largest object in the asteroid belt, the dwarf planet Ceres, is an icy body that measures 592 miles across.
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Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 29 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1993, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Dwarf planet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dwarf%20planet. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
dwarf planet
noun
: a celestial object similar to a planet but too small to clear other objects from its orbit
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