galactic

adjective

ga·​lac·​tic gə-ˈlak-tik How to pronounce galactic (audio)
1
: of or relating to a galaxy and especially the Milky Way galaxy
2
: huge
a galactic sum of money

Examples of galactic in a Sentence

a galactic serving of soda that would have been enough for three moviegoers
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This galactic structure is something astronomers have never seen before. Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2024 Day 20 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar: a galactic chain. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024 Galaxy’s Edge will feature projection effects and galactic music during the Season of the Force seasonal event running from March 28 through May 11. Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 18 Dec. 2024 Some active galactic nuclei can launch jets, which are particle beams accelerated to near the speed of light. Jonathan Zrake, Discover Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for galactic 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin galacticus (taken as derivative of Galaxias "Milky Way"), borrowed from Greek galaktikós "milky," from galakt-, gála "milk" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at galaxy

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of galactic was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near galactic

Cite this Entry

“Galactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/galactic. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

galactic

adjective
ga·​lac·​tic gə-ˈlak-tik How to pronounce galactic (audio)
: of or relating to a galaxy

More from Merriam-Webster on galactic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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