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

In some regions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America, the moon will pass directly in front of Venus — a rare event called a lunar occultation, Star Walk said in a Facebook post. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 19 Sep. 2025

On June 25, 2025, Rick Nolthenius, an astronomer at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, and his former student, amateur astronomer Kirk Bender, set out to observe the Quaoar system during an occultation. —Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Here comes the public bathroom again: a counter-place where private and relational dimension mingle, where the visible challenges the invisible, where decency collides with guilty pleasure and exposure flirts with occultation. —Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025

The third one was new to me – It’s called radio occultation. —John Werner, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025

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