insolation

noun

in·​so·​la·​tion ˌin-(ˌ)sō-ˈlā-shən 

1

: exposure to the sun's rays

2

: sunstroke

3

a

: solar radiation that has been received

b

: the rate of delivery of direct solar radiation per unit of horizontal surface

broadly : that relating to total solar radiation

Examples of insolation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Consider that land with consistently strong winds, high solar insolation, and good grid access is hard to find. —Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025

Even farther out, at Ganymede, Jupiter would have appeared scarcely brighter than today’s sun—a level of insolation with no significant impact on the moon’s ice. —Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2023

This is because the Sun's rays were momentarily blocked, creating a dip in insolation, or the amount of solar radiation reaching an area. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 27 Dec. 2017

The drill core reveals that the climate of East Africa was largely influenced by changes in solar insolation, which led to either wet or dry climate conditions. —David Bressan, Forbes, 16 June 2021

Word History

Etymology

French or Latin; French, from Latin insolation-, insolatio, from insolare to expose to the sun, from in- + sol sun — more at solar

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for insolation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

insolation

noun

in·​so·​la·​tion ˌin(t)-(ˌ)sō-ˈlā-shən 

: solar radiation that has been received (as by the earth)

Medical Definition

insolation

noun

in·​so·​la·​tion ˌin(t)-(ˌ)sō-ˈlā-shən, in-ˌsō- 

1

: exposure to the rays of the sun

2

: sunstroke