geocentric
adjective
geo·cen·tric
ˌjē-ō-ˈsen-trik 
1
a
: relating to, measured from, or as if observed from the earth's center compare topocentric
b
: having or relating to the earth as center compare heliocentric
2
: taking or based on the earth as the center of perspective and valuation
Examples of geocentric in a Sentence
the old geocentric theory that the Sun goes round the Earth
Recent Examples on the Web
The Ptolemaic geocentric system seemed obvious, and was accepted on the basis of consensus, despite being erroneous.
—
Olga Tokarczuk, Harper's Magazine, 6 Jan. 2023
But Ptolemy’s geocentric model worked.
—John Horgan, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2021
Lucretius’ only known work, On the Nature of Things, is remarkable for its foreshadowing of Darwinism, humans as higher primates, the study of atoms and the scientific method — all contemplated in a geocentric world ruled by eccentric gods.
—Mark Barna, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022
The geocentric description of Ptolemy worked better than any other model at detailing the motions of the heavenly bodies, and no model would do better until Kepler postulated elliptical orbits in the 17th century.
—Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 16 June 2021
To accord with their geocentric theories, ancient astronomers theorized that the planets moved in complicated ways, sometimes enacting a sort of loop-de-loop to end up in the spots that ancient astronomers observed, reports Vice.
—Nora McGreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Mar. 2021
Unfortunately, the geocentric predictions were more accurate — with fewer and smaller observational discrepancies — than the heliocentric model.
—Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2021
How did this geocentric picture of the Universe go largely unchallenged for well over 1,000 years?
—Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2021
But perhaps its relationship to reality—to what’s really out there—is as tenuous as Ptolemy’s geocentric model.
—John Horgan, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2021
See More
Olga Tokarczuk, Harper's Magazine, 6 Jan. 2023
But Ptolemy’s geocentric model worked.
—John Horgan, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2021
Lucretius’ only known work, On the Nature of Things, is remarkable for its foreshadowing of Darwinism, humans as higher primates, the study of atoms and the scientific method — all contemplated in a geocentric world ruled by eccentric gods.
—Mark Barna, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2022
The geocentric description of Ptolemy worked better than any other model at detailing the motions of the heavenly bodies, and no model would do better until Kepler postulated elliptical orbits in the 17th century.
—Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 16 June 2021
To accord with their geocentric theories, ancient astronomers theorized that the planets moved in complicated ways, sometimes enacting a sort of loop-de-loop to end up in the spots that ancient astronomers observed, reports Vice.
—Nora McGreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Mar. 2021
Unfortunately, the geocentric predictions were more accurate — with fewer and smaller observational discrepancies — than the heliocentric model.
—Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2021
How did this geocentric picture of the Universe go largely unchallenged for well over 1,000 years?
—Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2021
But perhaps its relationship to reality—to what’s really out there—is as tenuous as Ptolemy’s geocentric model.
—John Horgan, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'geocentric.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near geocentric
Cite this Entry
“Geocentric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geocentric. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
geocentric
adjective
geo·cen·tric
ˌjē-ō-ˈsen-trik
1
: relating to or measured from the earth's center
2
: having or relating to the earth as a center
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