meteorite

noun

me·​te·​or·​ite ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrīt How to pronounce meteorite (audio)
: a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth without being completely vaporized
meteoritic adjective
or less commonly meteoritical

Examples of meteorite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Difference from meteorites, meteoroids Rocks in space are known as meteoroids. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 17 June 2026 Typically, people recover meteorites in geologically unchanging regions, such as deserts or ice fields, where the meteorites stand out against the landscape. Adam Lark, The Conversation, 16 June 2026 The meteor — which is thought to be a small chunk of a much larger asteroid — was probably too small and traveled too fast to survive atmospheric entry and instead disintegrated entirely, leaving no parts of it to fall to the ground in the form of meteorites. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 16 June 2026 Three-dimensional tracking of meteors is a game changer, allowing scientists to pinpoint landing sites and retrieve meteorites rapidly after impact, minimizing contamination from our terrestrial environment. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for meteorite

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meteorite was in 1811

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Meteorite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meteorite. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

meteorite

noun
me·​te·​or·​ite ˈmēt-ē-ə-ˌrīt How to pronounce meteorite (audio)
: a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth

More from Merriam-Webster on meteorite

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster