Kuiper Belt

noun

Kui·​per Belt ˈkī-pər- How to pronounce Kuiper Belt (audio)
: a band of small celestial bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune from which many short-period comets are believed to originate compare oort cloud

Examples of Kuiper Belt 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.
The Kuiper Belt itself is named after the late Dutch astronomer Gerard Kuiper, widely considered to be the father of modern planetary science. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 17 June 2025 In 2003, an object farther out in the Kuiper Belt than Pluto was discovered. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 In addition, objects from the Kuiper Belt orbit in the opposite direction from everything else in the solar system, according to NASA. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 May 2025 However, the area beyond the Kuiper Belt, where the object is located, had previously been thought to be essentially empty, but the team’s discovery suggests that this is not so. Nick Butler, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for Kuiper Belt

Word History

Etymology

Gerald A. Kuiper †1973 U.S. (Dutch-born) astronomer

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Kuiper Belt was in 1988

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Cite this Entry

“Kuiper Belt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Kuiper%20Belt. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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