ecliptic

1 of 2

adjective

eclip·​tic i-ˈklip-tik 

: of or relating to the ecliptic or an eclipse

ecliptic

2 of 2

noun

: the great circle of the celestial sphere that is the apparent path of the sun among the stars or of the earth as seen from the sun : the plane of the earth's orbit extended to meet the celestial sphere

Examples of ecliptic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

While the constellation Aries was visible in the ecliptic starting on March 21, according to Babylonian time, today the constellation Pisces appears on that day instead. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 8 Mar. 2026

The planets will form a clear line along the ecliptic plane. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026

Noun

In it, each constellation is located in the ecliptic in modern times. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 8 Mar. 2026

Zodiacal light becomes visible in Earth's sky when sunlight reflects off dust particles concentrated on the ecliptic — the plane surrounding the sun that hosts the planets of our solar system, according to EarthSky. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English ekliptik, borrowed from Latin eclīpticus, borrowed from Greek ekleiptikós, from ekleípein "to be obscured (of a celestial body)" + -t-, verbal adjective ending + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at eclipse entry 1

Noun

Middle English ekliptik, borrowed from Medieval Latin eclīptica (short for eclīptica līnea "ecliptic line"), from feminine of Latin eclīpticus ecliptic entry 1; so called because eclipses occur on or near the ecliptic

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ecliptic

• elliptic
• apocalyptic
• cryptic
• diptych
• styptic
• triptych
• tryptic

Kids Definition

ecliptic

noun

eclip·​tic

i-ˈklip-tik

: the great circle of the celestial sphere on which the sun appears to move among the stars