dwarf planet

noun

: a celestial body that orbits the sun and has a spherical shape but is not large enough to disturb other objects from its orbit

Examples of dwarf planet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its near-vacuum atmosphere is physically too thin and sparse to generate an absorption feature of the observed depth, Bézard said, leaving the dwarf planet's solid surface as the only plausible source for the deep signature. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 20 July 2026

In 2015, New Horizons became the first spacecraft to conduct a detailed flyby of Pluto and its moons, which changed scientists’ understanding of the frigid dwarf planet. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

So its status was downgraded to a dwarf planet. — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 14 May 2026

For years, it's been an accepted tenet of astronomy that, with the exception of Pluto – infamously now classified as a dwarf planet – none of these worlds were likely large enough to sustain an atmosphere. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1993, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dwarf planet

• intranet
• gannet
• granite
• pomegranate

Kids Definition

dwarf planet

noun

: a celestial object similar to a planet but too small to clear other objects from its orbit