Illustration of cosmos
- cosmos 3
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a
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: a complex orderly self-inclusive system
3
plural cosmos
ˈkäz-məs 
[New Latin, genus name, from Greek kosmos]
: any of a genus (Cosmos) of tropical American composite herbs
-məz
also cosmoses
ˈkäz-mə-səz
[New Latin, genus name, from Greek kosmos]
: any of a genus (Cosmos) of tropical American composite herbs
especially
: a widely cultivated tall annual (C. bipinnatus) with yellow or red disks and showy ray flowers
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Cosmos and the Universe
Cosmos often simply means "universe". But the word is generally used to suggest an orderly or harmonious universe, as it was originally used by Pythagoras in the 6th century B.C. Thus, a religious mystic may help put us in touch with the cosmos, and so may a physicist. The same is often true of the adjective cosmic: Cosmic rays (really particles rather than rays) bombard us from outer space, but cosmic questions come from human attempts to find order in the universe.
Examples of cosmos in a Sentence
the origins of the cosmos
an essay that ponders the place of humankind in the vast cosmos
Recent Examples on the Web
Adrift in a cosmos devoid of fate, we human travelers possess only our luck and whatever choices are available to us.
—
Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
Deadheading is the process of removing dead blooms from plants, like cosmos and zinnia.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026
There also will be live presentations that focus on the cosmos from multiple locations, angles and timelines.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2026
In other words, matter in the cosmos is uniformly distributed, in the same way in all directions.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cosmos
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Rachel Vorona Cote, Vulture, 2 June 2026
Deadheading is the process of removing dead blooms from plants, like cosmos and zinnia.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026
There also will be live presentations that focus on the cosmos from multiple locations, angles and timelines.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2026
In other words, matter in the cosmos is uniformly distributed, in the same way in all directions.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cosmos
Cite this Entry
“Cosmos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cosmos. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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