1
a
: turning on an axis like a wheel
b
: taking place about an axis
rotary motion
2
: having an important part that turns on an axis
rotary cutter
3
: characterized by rotation
4
: of, relating to, or being a press in which paper is printed by rotation in contact with a curved printing surface attached to a cylinder
plural rotaries
1
: a rotary machine
2
: a road junction formed around a central circle about which traffic moves in one direction only
called also circle, roundabout, traffic circle
Examples of rotary in a Sentence
Adjective
the rotary action of the wheel
Recent Examples on the Web
Midwest Living, 5 Jan. 2026
Years ago, Tomasino puréed canned spinach and ran it through a rotary evaporator to remove any aromatics, then offered a sensory panel the result alongside the original.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
Other memorable relics found include two operating rotary hook style phones, old furniture, and wood reservoir tub with pull chain.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotary
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Adjective
Use a rotary beater for an extra-frothy drink.
—Midwest Living, 5 Jan. 2026
Years ago, Tomasino puréed canned spinach and ran it through a rotary evaporator to remove any aromatics, then offered a sensory panel the result alongside the original.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Reports have revealed that the new system draws inspiration from the Tesla turbine, a bladeless rotary design patented by Nikola Tesla in 1913.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
Other memorable relics found include two operating rotary hook style phones, old furniture, and wood reservoir tub with pull chain.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotary
Cite this Entry
“Rotary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotary. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rotary
1 of 2 adjective
ro·ta·ry
ˈrōt-ə-rē 
1
a
: turning on an axis like a wheel
a rotary blade
b
: taking place about an axis
rotary motion
2
: having a rotating part
a rotary lawn mower
rotary
2 of 2 noun
plural rotaries
1
: a rotary machine
2
: a road junction formed around a central circle about which traffic moves in one direction only
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