solar

adjective

so·​lar ˈsō-lər How to pronounce solar (audio)
-ˌlär
1
: of, derived from, relating to, or caused by the sun
2
: measured by the earth's course in relation to the sun
a solar year
also : relating to or reckoned by solar time
3
a
: produced or operated by the action of the sun's light or heat
solar energy
b
: utilizing the sun's rays especially to produce heat or electricity
a solar house
also : of or relating to such utilization
solar design

Examples of solar 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.
That plant -- a 600-megawatt solar field and 350-megawatt battery solar facility -- will feed the grid from which Google's West Memphis data center will draw massive power. — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026 Pacific Gas & Electric was successful in inserting an end date for Wiener’s SB 868 balcony solar bill, so, if it is signed into law, the Legislature will have to reauthorize it before 2030. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 But a decade later, in January of this year, natural gas generation had fallen off the chart entirely, replaced by solar (10%), wind (44%) and battery storage (46%), the study says. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 These solar neutrinos are still traveling close to the speed of light, but their energy has been too low to register on any previous experiment’s instruments. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for solar

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin solaris, from sol sun; akin to Old English & Old Norse sōl sun, Lithuanian saulė, Greek hēlios

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of solar was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing solar

Rhymes for solar

See All Rhymes for solar

Browse Nearby Words

solanum
solar
solar apex
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Solar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solar. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

solar

adjective
so·​lar ˈsō-lər How to pronounce solar (audio)
-ˌlär
1
: of, derived from, relating to, or caused by the sun
2
: measured by the earth's course in relation to the sun
solar time
solar year
3
a
: produced or operated by the action of the sun's light or heat
solar energy
b
: using the sun's rays especially to produce heat or electricity
a solar house
Etymology

Middle English solar "derived from or related to the sun," from Latin solaris (same meaning), from sol "sun" — related to sunday see Word History at sunday

More from Merriam-Webster on solar

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about solar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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