circumpolar

adjective

cir·​cum·​po·​lar ˌsər-kəm-ˈpō-lər 

1

: continually visible above the horizon

a circumpolar star

2

: surrounding or found in the vicinity of a terrestrial pole

a circumpolar current

circumpolar species

Examples of circumpolar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These Polaris huggers are better known as circumpolar stars. — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026

There are no circumpolar stars at the equator. — Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026

Carrington was awarded a Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medal in 1859 for his catalog of circumpolar stars, or stars that never seem to dip below the horizon from certain viewpoints on Earth. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Feb. 2026

However, Draco is in the northern sky, which is circumpolar — visible all night. — Jamie Carter, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for circumpolar

• ambipolar
• areolar
• bronchiolar
• equimolar
• monopolar
• multipolar
• nucleolar
• unipolar
• vacuolar
• arteriolar
• microcontroller
• bipolar

Kids Definition

circumpolar

adjective

cir·​cum·​po·​lar ˌsər-kəm-ˈpō-lər 

1

: continually visible above the horizon

a circumpolar star

2

: surrounding or found near a pole of the earth