Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus
view recents

meteorite

noun
Save Word
me·​te·​or·​ite | \ ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrīt How to pronounce meteorite (audio) \

Definition of meteorite

: a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth without being completely vaporized
Other Words from meteorite Example Sentences Learn More about meteorite

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from meteorite

meteoritic \ ˌmē-​tē-​ə-​ˈri-​tik How to pronounce meteoritic (audio) \ or less commonly meteoritical \ ˌmē-​tē-​ə-​ˈri-​ti-​kəl How to pronounce meteoritical (audio) \ adjective

Examples of meteorite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Hodges, who died in 1972, used the meteorite as a doorstop before donating it to the Alabama Museum of Natural History. — Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, "'Fireball' shows the awesome power of meteorites, asteroids hitting Earth: Top 5 danger moments," 14 Nov. 2020 Researchers identified 2600 organic compounds on the meteorite, which were mostly heavy, complex hydrocarbons. — Rachael Zisk, Popular Science, "Pristine 'fireball’ meteorite contains extraterrestrial organic compounds," 29 Oct. 2020 The Ramgarh crater in northern India was formed millions of years ago when a large meteorite crashed into Earth. — Daniel Oberhaus, Wired, "Fireball Is Werner Herzog’s Ode to Space Rocks," 12 Nov. 2020 Alsace, in France, is where a gigantic meteorite hit in 1492, a scant seven days after Columbus arrived in the Caribbean. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Goodness gracious: ‘Fireball’ captures how meteors shape our planet," 11 Nov. 2020 In a New Mexico town whose claim to fame is a meteorite that landed there decades ago, two Latina teens decide this is the year a brown girl finally wins the Miss Meteor pageant. — oregonlive, "17 books to check out during the 2020 Portland Book Festival," 3 Nov. 2020 At villages in northwestern and central Alaska, from McGrath to Wainwright, people saw what scientists think was a meteorite — a rock falling from space burning up and breaking apart in the thick air surrounding Earth. — Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, "Tracking down a fireball in the sky over Alaska," 25 Oct. 2020 Having survived the trip down to our planet’s surface, the cosmic chunk is technically a meteorite, or a meteor that makes it through the atmosphere intact. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, "Christie’s Auction House Offers 29-Pound Hunk of Moon for $2.5 Million," 5 May 2020 Wunmi Mosaku hit American screens this year like a meteorite. — Karen L. Smith-janssen, Vogue, "Lovecraft Country’s Wunmi Mosaku On Her New Film His House and the Particular Power of Horror," 29 Oct. 2020

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

See More

First Known Use of meteorite

1823, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about meteorite

Time Traveler for meteorite

Time Traveler

The first known use of meteorite was in 1823

See more words from the same year

Statistics for meteorite

Last Updated

28 Nov 2020

Cite this Entry

“Meteorite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meteorite. Accessed 5 Dec. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for meteorite

meteorite

noun
How to pronounce meteorite (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of meteorite

: a piece of rock or metal that has fallen to the ground from outer space : a meteor that reaches the surface of the Earth without burning up entirely

See the full definition for meteorite in the English Language Learners Dictionary

meteorite

noun
me·​te·​or·​ite | \ ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrīt How to pronounce meteorite (audio) \

Kids Definition of meteorite

: a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on meteorite

Nglish: Translation of meteorite for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of meteorite for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about meteorite

Comments on meteorite

What made you want to look up meteorite? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

incandescent

Listen to the pronunciation of incandescent

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Musical Words Quiz

  • gramophone
  • Which word describes a musical performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games