solar system

noun

: the sun together with the group of celestial bodies that are held by its attraction and revolve around it
also : a similar system centered on another star

Examples of solar system 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.
What to read next Shows like Cowboy Bebop had a ragtag team of underdogs exploring the solar system, instilling lessons about loneliness and existentialism. — George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Its five-year mission is to study dark matter and hunt for habitable worlds outside our solar system. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 The telescope is set to transform our understanding of the cosmos—from the furthest reaches and most mysterious forces, to the planets and stars that make up our own galaxy and even objects in our solar system. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 30 Aug. 2026 Once fully operational, the observatory is expected to vastly expand scientists’ inventory of planets outside our solar system, increasing it from about 6,300 planets to more than 100,000. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for solar system

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1704, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of solar system was circa 1704

Rhymes for solar system

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Browse Nearby Words

solar still
solar system
solar telegraph
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Cite this Entry

“Solar system.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solar%20system. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

solar system

noun
: a star with the group of heavenly bodies that revolve around it
especially : the sun with the planets, moons, asteroids, and comets that orbit it

More from Merriam-Webster on solar system

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about solar system

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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