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, traffic circle
Examples of rotary in a Sentence
Adjective
the rotary action of the wheel
Recent Examples on the Web
Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2025
The central touchscreen handles the vast majority of controls and there’s a small rotary dial to turn the volume up and down.
—Trinity Francis, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 27 Apr. 2025
Turbine-smooth and powerful, the rotary was also notoriously failure-prone due to unreliable rotor seals that ultimately doomed NSU—and the engine generally.
—Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rotary
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Adjective
She’s found a Victorian-style phone with its rotary dial replaced by a number pad, and encased in what looks like jadestone.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2025
The central touchscreen handles the vast majority of controls and there’s a small rotary dial to turn the volume up and down.
—Trinity Francis, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
Patients can go for a literal spin in the new Orion rotary chair while wearing goggles that track their pupils, with the goal of determining if their balance issues are ear-based or should be referred to a neurologist for further study.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 27 Apr. 2025
Turbine-smooth and powerful, the rotary was also notoriously failure-prone due to unreliable rotor seals that ultimately doomed NSU—and the engine generally.
—Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 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 22 May. 2025.
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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