galaxy

noun

gal·axy | \ ˈga-lək-sē

plural galaxies

Definition of galaxy

1a often capitalized : milky way galaxy —used with the

b : any of the very large groups of stars and associated matter that are found throughout the universe

2a : an assemblage of brilliant or notable persons or things a galaxy of artists

b : world sense 11 remained galaxies apart on the issue — Newsweek

Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about galaxy

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Did You Know?

The system of stars that includes our sun looks, in the night sky, like a broad band of light. We call this band the Milky Way. The idea of the whiteness of the Milky Way being similar to that of milk is much older than the English language, however. Galaxias, the Greek word for the Milky Way, was derived from the Greek gala, “milk.” English galaxy, derived from Greek galaxias, was not used until the 19th century as a generic term for other star systems as well as the one in which we live.

Examples of galaxy in a Sentence

The event was attended by a galaxy of artists. they're a galaxy apart when it comes to politics

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists then traced the particle back to the galaxy that created it. — Author: Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, "In a cosmic first, scientists detect ‘ghost particles’ from a distant galaxy," 12 July 2018 Scientists then traced the particle back to the galaxy that created it. — Sarah Kaplan, chicagotribune.com, "In a cosmic first, scientists detect 'ghost particles' from a distant galaxy," 12 July 2018 The method that allowed the star to be spotted is called gravitational lensing, which is the bending of light by massive galaxy clusters in the line of sight. — Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "Far out: Astronomers discover most distant star ever seen," 2 Apr. 2018 The tech-entrepreneur galaxy brains behind various (laudable) clean energy investment schemes would do well to study it. — David Roberts, Vox, "What made solar panels so cheap? Thank government policy.," 20 Nov. 2018 Go a more colorful route with a galaxy background and a constellation to match your sun sign. — Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, "Astrology Nails Are Blowing Up on Instagram," 27 Sep. 2018 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Executive producer Dave Filoni and panelists look back on 10 years of the Emmy Award-winning series that expanded the Star Wars universe and introduced countless fan-favorite characters to a galaxy far, far away. — Phillip Molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Comic-Con 2018: Here's your Thursday schedule," 6 July 2018 Translation: Put your comfy pants on, grab your BB(8), and head to a galaxy far, far away. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "All the Best TV Shows and Movies to Watch This Week," 22 June 2018 While those directors were bringing new modes of storytelling to the depths of Vietnam or the rundown streets of New York, George Lucas was doing the same, only in a galaxy of his own invention. — Brian P. Kelly, WSJ, "‘I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing’ Review: The Geeks Strike Back," 7 June 2018

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

History and Etymology for galaxy

Middle English galaxias, galaxie, borrowed from Late Latin galaxias, borrowed from Greek galaxías (probably originally conjoined with kýklos "wheel"), from galakt-, stem of gála "milk" (going back to Indo-European *glkt-, attested elsewhere only in Latin lact-, lac "milk," Armenian kat'n) + -ias, noun suffix, especially of natural phenomena