firmament

noun

fir·​ma·​ment ˈfər-mə-mənt How to pronounce firmament (audio)
1
: the vault or arch of the sky : heavens
Stars twinkled in the firmament.
2
obsolete : basis
3
: the field or sphere of an interest or activity
the international fashion firmament
She's a rising star in the city's artistic firmament.
firmamental adjective

Example Sentences

meteors flashing across the firmament the stars in the firmament twinkled ever so brightly
Recent Examples on the Web She’s been a beauty queen and an action hero, but now with the awards buzz of Everything Everywhere All at Once and that Avatar sequel on the horizon, Michelle Yeoh finds herself at the zenith of the Hollywood firmament. Town & Country, 25 July 2022 For years, female executives occupied a rarefied place in the media firmament, posing for glossy magazine profiles with blowouts and baby bumps. Jess Bergman, The New Republic, 20 Feb. 2023 In many ways, that’s true: Though the country’s wine firmament is divided into a seemingly approachable 20 different regions, there are countless appellations within them. Brian Freedman, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023 But those who step beneath its low doorway stop in their tracks with gasps of wonder at the ceiling: 567 golden stars cascade down the cobalt-blue night sky, a gorgeous firmament intended to evoke the gateway to heaven above. Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2023 But amongst the drab, looming towers (in Warship Gray) and still-empty hotels (in Beaux Arts Beige) there shimmers a vivid firmament of pink ambrosia. Jordan Michelman, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Dec. 2022 Rorty was more than two decades my senior and highly accomplished, one of the stars in the academic firmament. Mark Edmundson, Harper’s Magazine , 12 Dec. 2022 Likewise for Lizzo, whose very strong album was a commercial disappointment but is assured a place in this firmament as well. Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2022 To prove her point, Kenza worked with star brands from across the interior design firmament. Charles Curkin, ELLE Decor, 30 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'firmament.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin firmamentum, from Latin, support, from firmare

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of firmament was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near firmament

Cite this Entry

“Firmament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firmament. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

firmament

noun
fir·​ma·​ment ˈfər-mə-mənt How to pronounce firmament (audio)
: the arch of the sky : heavens

More from Merriam-Webster on firmament

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