interplanetary

adjective

in·​ter·​plan·​e·​tary ˌin-tər-ˈpla-nə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce interplanetary (audio)
: existing, carried on, or operating between planets
interplanetary dust
an interplanetary flight
interplanetary spacecraft

Examples of interplanetary in a Sentence

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.
Because of the amount of energy Europa Clipper needs to escape Earth's gravity and make it to its interplanetary trajectory, SpaceX does not plan to recover the boosters. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 14 Oct. 2024 The big planets can shift Earth’s orbit slightly, and how our planet reacts to this interplanetary tug can set new temperature patterns in motion. Longreads, 11 Oct. 2024 The sunlight scattering off this interplanetary dust is called zodiacal light and is roughly 24.5 mag/arcsec2. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2024 While history suggests SpaceX will resume flying the Falcon 9 rather quickly, important interplanetary science missions are hanging in the balance. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 30 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for interplanetary 

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interplanetary was in 1691

Dictionary Entries Near interplanetary

Cite this Entry

“Interplanetary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interplanetary. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

interplanetary

adjective
in·​ter·​plan·​e·​tary
ˌint-ər-ˈplan-ə-ˌter-ē
: between planets
interplanetary space
interplanetary travel

More from Merriam-Webster on interplanetary

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