stratosphere

noun

strato·​sphere ˈstra-tə-ˌsfir 

1

: the part of the earth's atmosphere which extends from the top of the troposphere to about 30 miles (50 kilometers) above the surface and in which temperature increases gradually to about 32°F (0°C) and clouds rarely form

2

: a very high or the highest region on or as if on a graded scale

construction costs in the stratosphere

the celebrity stratosphere

stratospheric

ˌstra-tə-ˈsfir-ik 

-ˈsfer-

adjective

stratospherically

ˌstra-tə-ˈsfir-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈsfer-

adverb

Did you know?

The stratosphere (strato- simply means "layer" or "level") lies above the earth's weather and mostly changes very little. It contains the ozone layer, which shields us from the sun's ultraviolet radiation except where it's been harmed by manmade chemicals. The levels of the atmosphere are marked particularly by their temperatures; stratospheric temperatures rise only to around 32°—very moderate considering that temperatures in the troposphere below may descend to about -70° and those in the ionosphere above may rise to 1000°.

Examples of stratosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 46-year-old standup had been growing his audience for two decades when, in 2023, his viral SNL hosting gig rocketed him to the comedy stratosphere. —Judy Berman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025

Though stratospheric aerosol injection over the poles could potentially cool the lower atmosphere atop the ice caps, the study notes that the aerosols could actually the overlying stratosphere—which could disrupt atmospheric circulation, warming Russia in the winter. —Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2025

By our points formula, a game in the 10s or below is D-grade, the 20s is average, the 30s above average, the 40s really good and 50s-plus next-stratosphere stuff. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025

His salary as a No. 2 booth analyst is not close to the Brady-Romo-Aikman stratosphere. —Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French stratosphère, probably from stratus stratus (from the zone's layer-like character, compared to stratus clouds) + -o- -o- + -sphère -sphere

Note: The term was introduced, along with troposphère, by the French meteorologist Léon Tesserenc de Bort (1855-1913). See note at troposphere.

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stratosphere

• the stratosphere

Rhymes for stratosphere

• atmosphere
• biosphere
• centromere
• chemosphere
• chromosphere
• hemisphere
• hydrosphere
• lithosphere
• mesosphere
• microsphere
• miserere
• mountaineer

Kids Definition

stratosphere

noun

strato·​sphere ˈstrat-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r 

: an upper portion of the atmosphere above the troposphere where temperature changes little and clouds rarely form