outer space

noun

: space immediately outside the earth's atmosphere
broadly : interplanetary or interstellar space

Examples of outer space in a Sentence

a satellite in outer space Is there life in outer space?
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.
Along with having become a pop cultural sensation, they are widely known for their ability to withstand extreme cold, heat, dryness, and even the vacuum of outer space. New Atlas, 5 May 2025 Spacewalks require suiting up in specialized suits and exposing oneself to the vacuum of outer space. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 May 2025 New Shepard traveled well above the Kármán line, a point at 62 miles (100 kilometers) that’s often used to define the altitude at which airspace ends and outer space begins. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2025 Here's How Much a Trip to Space Could Set You Back The Blue Origin flight to the boundary of outer space lasted approximately 11 minutes on Monday. Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outer space

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outer space was in 1842

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Cite this Entry

“Outer space.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outer%20space. Accessed 16 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

outer space

noun
: space entry 1 sense 4
especially : the region beyond the solar system

More from Merriam-Webster on outer space

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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