meteoroid

noun

me·​te·​or·​oid ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrȯid How to pronounce meteoroid (audio)
1
: a meteor particle itself without relation to the phenomena it produces when entering the earth's atmosphere
2
: a meteor in orbit around the sun
meteoroidal adjective

Examples of meteoroid 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.
As the trailer shows, all hell breaks loose — both on the spacecraft and back on earth, where meteoroids or debris rain down all over Los Angeles. Patrick Gomez, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025 It's believed that the five-year periodicity is caused by the meteoroids being trapped in a resonance with Jupiter. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Looking at the standard sizes of satellites and the number of meteoroids raining down, the paper’s co-authors estimate that if 2024 YR4 were to make lunar impact, hundreds to thousands of sand-grain-size impact fragments could strike satellites within a few days. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2025 The meteorite — a remnant after a comet, asteroid or meteoroid survives passing through Earth’s atmosphere — was discovered in Niger’s vast, arid and remote Agadez region in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter, according to its Sotheby’s catalog note. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for meteoroid

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of meteoroid was in 1865

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Cite this Entry

“Meteoroid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meteoroid. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

meteoroid

noun
me·​te·​or·​oid ˈmēt-ē-ə-ˌrȯid How to pronounce meteoroid (audio)
: a meteor revolving around the sun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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