magnetosphere

noun

mag·​ne·​to·​sphere mag-ˈnē-tə-ˌsfir 

-ˈne-

: a region of space surrounding a celestial object (such as a planet or star) that is dominated by the object's magnetic field so that charged particles are trapped in it

magnetospheric

mag-ˌnē-tə-ˈsfir-ik 

-ˈsfer-

-ˌne-

adjective

Examples of magnetosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These ejections can collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, the barrier protecting humanity from the harshest impacts of space weather, to produce geomagnetic storms that not only pose a hazard to Earthly technologies, but play a role in unleashing northern lights. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 19 June 2025

As detailed in a study published Monday in the journal Nature Communications, the images literally shed new light on the magnetosphere and atmosphere of our solar system’s largest planet. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2025

Solar winds pounding the magnetosphere would have temporarily driven plasma out of the system while also ratcheting up the power of the magnetosphere, according to the study. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024

The anomalous state of Uranus’s magnetosphere during the Voyager 2 flyby NASA. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

magneto- + -sphere

Note: Term introduced by the Austrian-born physicist Thomas Gold (1920-2004) in "Motions in the Magnetosphere of the Earth," Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 64, no. 9 (September, 1959), pp. 1219-24.

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for magnetosphere

• acyclovir
• asthenosphere
• ganciclovir
• atmosphere
• biosphere
• centromere
• chemosphere
• chromosphere
• hemisphere
• hydrosphere
• lithosphere
• mesosphere

Kids Definition

magnetosphere

noun

mag·​ne·​to·​sphere mag-ˈnēt-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r 

-ˈnet-

: a region of space around an object (as a planet or star) that is dominated by the object's magnetic field