perigee

noun

peri·​gee ˈper-ə-(ˌ)jē 

: the point in the orbit of an object (such as a satellite) orbiting the earth that is nearest to the center of the earth

also : the point nearest a planet or a satellite (such as the moon) reached by an object orbiting it compare apogee

perigean

ˌper-ə-ˈjē-ən 

adjective

Examples of perigee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The flip side of this phenomenon is a supermoon, which is when the moon reaches its perigee (its closest approach to Earth) and appears much larger in the sky. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025

The closest point in an elliptical orbit around Earth, where the satellite or spacecraft is moving fastest, is called the perigee. —Piyush Mehta, The Conversation, 7 May 2025

When the satellite reaches apogee, the spacecraft fires its engines to raise the perigee and make the orbit circular at geostationary altitude. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 3 Feb. 2025

The moon’s orbit around the Earth is elliptical, with a low point, or perigee, of about 224,000 miles, and a high point, or apogee, of 251,650 miles. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from New Latin perigeum, from Greek perigeion, from neuter of perigeios near the earth, from peri- + gē earth

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

perigee

noun

peri·​gee ˈper-ə-jē 

: the point nearest a planet (as the earth) or other body (as a moon) reached by an object orbiting it compare apogee