satellite

noun

sat·​el·​lite ˈsa-tə-ˌlīt How to pronounce satellite (audio)
1
a
: a celestial body orbiting another of larger size
b
: a manufactured object or vehicle intended to orbit the earth, the moon, or another celestial body
2
: someone or something attendant, subordinate, or dependent
especially : a country politically and economically dominated or controlled by another more powerful country
3
: a usually independent urban community situated near but not immediately adjacent to a large city
4
5
: a hired agent or obsequious follower : minion, sycophant
satellite adjective

Examples of satellite in a Sentence

Satellites help meteorologists predict the weather. Images of the planet are sent by satellite.
Recent Examples on the Web Boeing's operations in Arizona are focused on helicopter manufacturing, flight testing and satellite network support. Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 Data from the satellites shows that just over 1,000 fires burned in the Colombian Amazon in the first week of March. Quentin Septer, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 But in some areas, vessels’ AIS signals can’t reach the satellites, either because reception is poor or many boats are crowded together – much as cellphones can have difficulty sending text messages in remote wildness or in crowded stadiums. Heather Welch, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2024 The satellite will measure changes in natural gas concentrations with high resolution over wide areas. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 New Zealand helped fund the satellite launch, along with private donors to EDF. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 The four moons, and Jupiter's largest satellites, are lo, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Maeghan Dolph, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024 The annual minimum likely occurred on Feb. 20, tying with 2022 for second lowest in the 46-year satellite record, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024 Jaymie Matthews, an emeritus astronomer at the University of British Columbia, says that satellites, communications networks and the power grid could all be destroyed by a storm on the scale of the 1859 event. Kim Beil, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'satellite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin satellit-, satelles attendant

First Known Use

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Time Traveler
The first known use of satellite was circa 1520

Dictionary Entries Near satellite

Cite this Entry

“Satellite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/satellite. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

satellite

noun
sat·​el·​lite ˈsat-ᵊl-ˌīt How to pronounce satellite (audio)
1
: a follower resembling a slave
2
a
: a heavenly body orbiting another of larger size
b
: a man-made object or vehicle intended to orbit the earth, the moon, or another heavenly body
3
: a country controlled by a more powerful country
satellite adjective
Etymology

from early French satellite "a person who follows or escorts someone of importance," from Latin satellit-, satelles "escort, attendant"

Word Origin
Although it is now closely connected with the modern world of space exploration, satellite is actually a very old word. Its origin can be traced to the Latin word satelles, meaning "one who escorts or follows after an important person." This is also the original meaning of satellite in English. Because such heavenly bodies as the moon can be thought of as "escorts" of the planets they orbit, they also became known as satellites. The satellites of modern times made by humans got their name because they, like the moon, orbit the earth.

Medical Definition

satellite

noun
sat·​el·​lite ˈsat-ᵊl-ˌīt How to pronounce satellite (audio)
1
: a short segment separated from the main body of a chromosome by a constriction

called also trabant

2
: the secondary or later member of a chain of gregarines
3
: a bodily structure lying near or associated with another (as a vein accompanying an artery)
4
: a smaller lesion accompanying a main one and situated nearby
5
: a spectral line of low intensity having a frequency close to that of another stronger line to which it is closely related (as by having a common energy level)
satellite adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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