occultation

noun

oc·​cul·​ta·​tion ˌä-(ˌ)kəl-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the state of being hidden from view or lost to notice

2

: the interruption of the light from a celestial body or of the signals from a spacecraft by the intervention of a celestial body

especially : an eclipse of a star or planet by the moon

Examples of occultation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The moon passes directly in front of Venus during a rare daylight occultation on June 17, 2026, creating one of the month's most unusual and technically challenging skywatching events. — Jules-Pierre Malartre, Space.com, 17 June 2026

What is an eclipse — or occultation? — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026

During the event, known as a lunar occultation, the bright planet will disappear behind the moon's dark side before reappearing roughly an hour later on the other side. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 16 June 2026

The routine passage, called an occultation, was supposed to last less than an hour, but ground teams didn’t hear from the spacecraft when it was supposed to regain contact with Earth. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English occultacion, borrowed from Latin occultātiōn-, occultātiō "concealment, interruption of light from a celestial body," from occultāre "to prevent from being seen, conceal, keep secret" + -tiōn- -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at occult entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for occultation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation