galactic

adjective

ga·​lac·​tic gə-ˈlak-tik 

1

: of or relating to a galaxy and especially the Milky Way galaxy

2

: huge

a galactic sum of money

Synonyms

• giant
• vast
• huge
• gigantic
• massive
• tremendous
• enormous
• astronomical
• colossal
• astronomic
• cosmic
• mammoth
• immense
• bumper
• monumental
• planetary
• titanic
• mountainous
• oceanic
• monster
• monstrous

Examples of galactic in a Sentence

a galactic serving of soda that would have been enough for three moviegoers

Recent Examples on the Web

The research is even more interesting because of how different this region of the Milky Way is from the galactic plane, where supernovas usually rage. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2025

The American Museum of Natural History’s new Hayden Planetarium Space show, Encounters in the Milky Way, Illuminates the cosmic movements that shape our galactic neighborhood and place in the universe. —Jane Levere, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025

According to the standard model of cosmology, galaxies like the Milky Way are located within massive dark matter halos, where the highest concentration of this mysterious substance is found at the galactic center. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2025

In many cases, similar accreting black holes are telltale signs of active galactic nuclei, but astronomers needed to examine the evidence more carefully. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin galacticus (taken as derivative of Galaxias "Milky Way"), borrowed from Greek galaktikós "milky," from galakt-, gála "milk" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at galaxy

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for galactic

• climactic
• didactic
• syntactic
• anaphylactic
• extragalactic
• intergalactic
• stereotactic
• chemotactic
• chiropractic
• isotactic
• prophylactic
• lactic

Kids Definition

galactic

adjective

ga·​lac·​tic gə-ˈlak-tik 

: of or relating to a galaxy