Milky Way

noun

1
: a broad luminous irregular band of light that stretches completely around the celestial sphere and is caused by the light of myriads of faint stars
2

Examples of Milky Way 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 ApJ study examined the spectra, or light signatures, of half a dozen stars in Sextans A, which is near our home Milky Way galaxy. Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 14 Jan. 2026 Such galaxies are small when compared to our Milky Way, which contains hundreds of billions of stars. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026 Beloved candy brand Milky Way is giving chocolate fans something to look forward to in the new year. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2025 Now, the ancient space object is due to approach Earth – offering the world's scientists an unprecedented opportunity to study a comet that formed in an entirely different part of our Milky Way. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025 The upcoming release, Milky Way All Caramel, hits stores nationally beginning in January 2026. Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025 Many, perhaps most, astronomers thought these were in fact nebulas in the classic sense, clouds of gas inside our Milky Way. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 13 Nov. 2025 These streams range from around 1000 light-years in extent to over a million light-years long, with the longest and largest ones making several loops or arcs around the entire Milky Way. Big Think, 4 Nov. 2025 In the early 2010s, Courtois was part of the team that discovered and described the Laniakea supercluster of galaxies to which our Milky Way belongs. Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Milky Way was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Milky Way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Milky%20Way. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

Milky Way

noun
1
: a broad band of light that stretches across the sky and is caused by the light of a very great number of faint stars
2
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