Illustration of nadir
- 1 nadir
- 2 observer
- 3 zenith
1
: the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward from the observer
2
: the lowest point
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Nadir Has Arabic Roots
Nadir is part of the galaxy of scientific words that have come to us from Arabic, a language that has made important contributions to the English lexicon especially in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and chemistry. The source of nadir is naḍhīr, meaning "opposite"—the opposite, that is, of the zenith, the highest point of the celestial sphere which is positioned vertically above the observer. (The word zenith itself is a modification of another Arabic word that means "the way over one's head.") According to our sources, usage of nadir reached an apex in the 1980s. But worry not for the word’s future: it’s still flying high.
Examples of nadir in a Sentence
Nantucket reached its nadir in the post-Civil War period. The whaling industry had become moribund, many New Englanders had been lured to California by the discovery of gold, and the island population dropped from ten thousand in 1830 to scarcely more than three thousand in 1880.
—
David H. Wood, Antiques, August 1995
But then, at the very nadir of that dark abandoned moment, that moment of despair and sickness unto death, …
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, The Road to Wellville, 1993
My nadir was the time I presented an oral book report on "Les Misérables," having read only the Classic Comics version …
—Stephen Jay Gould, New York Times Book Review, 12 Oct. 1986
The relationship between the two countries reached a nadir in the 1920s.
the discussion really reached its nadir when people resorted to name-calling
David H. Wood, Antiques, August 1995
But then, at the very nadir of that dark abandoned moment, that moment of despair and sickness unto death, …
—T. Coraghessan Boyle, The Road to Wellville, 1993
My nadir was the time I presented an oral book report on "Les Misérables," having read only the Classic Comics version …
—Stephen Jay Gould, New York Times Book Review, 12 Oct. 1986
The relationship between the two countries reached a nadir in the 1920s.
the discussion really reached its nadir when people resorted to name-calling
Recent Examples on the Web
This isn’t a sign of ascendant fascism so much as the nadir of late-stage capitalism, which depends on forever wars to juice corporate profits at a time of falling rates of return on investment.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Watching Gulf leaders embrace while their advisers face the consequences of the embargo is something a Qatari official predicted in a 2017 interview, when relations were at a nadir.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Solar activity reached a nadir in 2008, which was the lull at the beginning of solar cycle 24.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Perhaps the nadir of this period was when track repairs on my train line meant six hours commuting only to work in my office for four.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nadir
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Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Watching Gulf leaders embrace while their advisers face the consequences of the embargo is something a Qatari official predicted in a 2017 interview, when relations were at a nadir.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Solar activity reached a nadir in 2008, which was the lull at the beginning of solar cycle 24.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Perhaps the nadir of this period was when track repairs on my train line meant six hours commuting only to work in my office for four.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nadir
Cite this Entry
“Nadir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nadir. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nadir
noun
na·dir
ˈnā-ˌdi(ə)r 
ˈnād-ər
1
: the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and directly under the observer
2
: the lowest point
our hopes reached their nadir
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