galaxy

noun

gal·​axy ˈga-lək-sē How to pronounce galaxy (audio)
plural galaxies
1
a
often capitalized : milky way galaxy
used with the
b
: any of the very large groups of stars and associated matter that are found throughout the universe
2
a
: an assemblage of brilliant or notable persons or things
a galaxy of artists
b
: world sense 11
remained galaxies apart on the issueNewsweek

Did you know?

The system of stars that includes our sun looks, in the night sky, like a broad band of light. We call this band the Milky Way. The idea of the whiteness of the Milky Way being similar to that of milk is much older than the English language, however. Galaxias, the Greek word for the Milky Way, was derived from the Greek gala, “milk.” English galaxy, derived from Greek galaxias, was not used until the 19th century as a generic term for other star systems as well as the one in which we live.

Examples of galaxy in a Sentence

The event was attended by a galaxy of artists. they're a galaxy apart when it comes to politics
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.
The spiral structure of the cloud is believed to have emerged as a consequence of the Galactic tide—the gravitational influence of the surrounding Milky Way galaxy. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025 Do stars and galaxies still act like stars and galaxies? Paul M. Sutter, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2025 With its ability to learn and adapt, AGI could lead autonomous space missions, exploring planets and distant galaxies. Sri Bhargav Krishna Adusumilli, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 Bock said these observations could unlock answers about galaxy formation and enable the observatory to investigate the origin of water and other organic materials in our Milky Way galaxy. Denise Chow, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for galaxy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English galaxias, galaxie, borrowed from Late Latin galaxias, borrowed from Greek galaxías (probably originally conjoined with kýklos "wheel"), from galakt-, stem of gála "milk" (going back to Indo-European *glkt-, attested elsewhere only in Latin lact-, lac "milk," Armenian kat'n) + -ias, noun suffix, especially of natural phenomena

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

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Cite this Entry

“Galaxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/galaxy. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

galaxy

noun
gal·​axy ˈgal-ək-sē How to pronounce galaxy (audio)
plural galaxies
1
2
: one of the very large groups of stars and other matter that are found throughout the universe
Etymology

Middle English galaxie "the Milky Way," from Latin galaxias (same meaning), from Greek galaxias "Milky Way," from galakt-, gala "milk"

More from Merriam-Webster on galaxy

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