redshift
noun
red·shift
ˈred-ˈshift 
: a displacement of the spectrum of a celestial body toward longer wavelengths that is a consequence of the Doppler effect or the gravitational field of the source
also
: a measurement of a celestial body's redshift equal to the ratio of the displacement of a spectral line to its known unshifted wavelength and used especially to calculate the body's distance from earth
Examples of redshift in a Sentence
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First, the black holes that are predicted do arise sufficiently early — at between 100-150 million years of cosmic age (or a redshift of between 23 and 30) — but tend to have masses of around 10,000 or maybe a few ten-thousand solar masses.
—
Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
The image doesn't show the entirety of the Ultra Deep Field, only a section of it containing about 2,500 visible galaxies, four-fifths of them being truly distant, high redshift galaxies.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2025
The gravitational effects of such a void add a small redshift to the light from distant objects—on top of the redshift caused by the overall expansion of the universe.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
The relative abundances of some chemical elements at these high redshifts are also unusual with astronomers particularly puzzled by why galaxies at such early times are so rich in the element of nitrogen.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
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Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
The image doesn't show the entirety of the Ultra Deep Field, only a section of it containing about 2,500 visible galaxies, four-fifths of them being truly distant, high redshift galaxies.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2025
The gravitational effects of such a void add a small redshift to the light from distant objects—on top of the redshift caused by the overall expansion of the universe.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
The relative abundances of some chemical elements at these high redshifts are also unusual with astronomers particularly puzzled by why galaxies at such early times are so rich in the element of nitrogen.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for redshift
Cite this Entry
“Redshift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redshift. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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redshift
noun
red·shift
ˈred-ˈshift
: displacement of a spectrum especially of a heavenly body toward longer wavelengths
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