galaxy

noun

gal·​axy ˈga-lək-sē 

plural galaxies

1

a

often Galaxy : 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 issue …

—Newsweek

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.

Synonyms of galaxy

• world

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

Turn the volume up and that pinhole dilates, revealing swirling galaxies of vocal harmonies, upright bass plucks, and cascading piano runs. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Black holes more massive than entire galaxies are not a major component of the mysterious dark matter that's thought to make up most of the matter in the cosmos, a new study finds. — Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Not just a rock star but an entire galaxy unto himself, Bowie became a singular force in glam rock, electronic and ambient sounds, dance pop, art rock, and gender-bending fashion. — Eleni N. Gage, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026

After the initial blast, which spews out gamma rays, a storm of radiation pours into the surrounding galaxy, creating a ferocious afterglow that burns in every part of the electromagnetic spectrum. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

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

Phrases Containing galaxy

• elliptical galaxy
• Milky Way galaxy
• radio galaxy
• satellite galaxy
• Seyfert galaxy
• spiral galaxy

Kids Definition

galaxy

noun

gal·​axy ˈgal-ək-sē 

plural galaxies

1

: milky way galaxy

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"