meteorite

noun

me·​te·​or·​ite ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrīt 

: a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth without being completely vaporized

meteoritic

ˌmē-tē-ə-ˈri-tik 

adjective

or less commonly meteoritical

ˌmē-tē-ə-ˈri-ti-kəl 

Examples of meteorite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The oxygen isotopes within the meteorites’ organic matter fall precisely along or near the Carbonaceous Chondrite Anhydrous Mineral (CCAM) line. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026

The moonphase, at 6 o’clock, appears in a fully visible enamel disk rather than the half-aperture of the 8171, with both the full and new moons rendered in meteorite—the latter with a dark PVD coating. — Carol Besler, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2026

The signature of this additional cosmic artist was found within grains of dust sealed in DOM 08006, a meteorite recovered from Antarctica in 2008. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for meteorite

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Kids Definition

meteorite

noun

me·​te·​or·​ite ˈmēt-ē-ə-ˌrīt 

: a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth