Alcyone

noun

Al·​cy·​o·​ne al-ˈsī-ə-(ˌ)nē How to pronounce Alcyone (audio)
: the brightest star in the Pleiades

Examples of Alcyone 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.
Specific times and zones of visibility Courtesy of IOTA, detailed prediction pages are available for each of the four brightest stars — Alcyone, Atlas, Electra, and Maia. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 July 2025 The Pleiades contains seven main bright stars—Alcyone, Atlas, Electra, Maia, Merope, Taygeta and Pleione—all 444 light-years distant and about 100 million years old, which is young compared to most stars. — Jamie Carter, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Alkyonē

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Alcyone was in 1797

Browse Nearby Words

alcyonarian
Alcyone
Alcyones
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alcyone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Alcyone. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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