meteoroid

noun

me·​te·​or·​oid ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrȯid How to pronounce meteoroid (audio)
1
: a meteor particle itself without relation to the phenomena it produces when entering the earth's atmosphere
2
: a meteor in orbit around the sun
meteoroidal adjective

Examples of meteoroid 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.
It's believed that the five-year periodicity is caused by the meteoroids being trapped in a resonance with Jupiter. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Looking at the standard sizes of satellites and the number of meteoroids raining down, the paper’s co-authors estimate that if 2024 YR4 were to make lunar impact, hundreds to thousands of sand-grain-size impact fragments could strike satellites within a few days. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2025 The meteorite — a remnant after a comet, asteroid or meteoroid survives passing through Earth’s atmosphere — was discovered in Niger’s vast, arid and remote Agadez region in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter, according to its Sotheby’s catalog note. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025 Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through a dense stream of meteoroids left behind by a comet's orbit. Amanda Castro hannah Parry anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for meteoroid

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of meteoroid was in 1865

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Cite this Entry

“Meteoroid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meteoroid. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

meteoroid

noun
me·​te·​or·​oid ˈmēt-ē-ə-ˌrȯid How to pronounce meteoroid (audio)
: a meteor revolving around the sun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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