solar

adjective

so·​lar ˈsō-lər 

-ˌlär

1

: of, derived from, relating to, or caused by the sun

2

: measured by the earth's course in relation to the sun

a solar year

also : relating to or reckoned by solar time

3

a

: produced or operated by the action of the sun's light or heat

solar energy

b

: utilizing the sun's rays especially to produce heat or electricity

a solar house

also : of or relating to such utilization

solar design

Examples of solar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An aerospace startup that aims to provide a method to build living and industrial structures in space, communications systems and solar arrays to beam energy to Earth has opened its headquarters in Golden. —Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025

Earlier this month, a group of nonprofits and solar installers filed a similar lawsuit over the program’s cancellation. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025

Unlike solar protons, these high-energy particles are nearly impossible to block completely and may significantly increase cancer risks over the years. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025

By replacing natural gas with the solar and battery system, the oil company avoids 13,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually while also lowering costs, according to the battery startup’s founder and Chief Innovation Officer John O’Donnell. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin solaris, from sol sun; akin to Old English & Old Norse sōl sun, Lithuanian saulė, Greek hēlios

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing solar

• mean solar day
• solar battery
• solar cell
• solar collector
• solar constant
• solar day
• solar eclipse
• solar farm
• solar flare
• solar mass
• solar panel
• solar park
• solar plexus
• solar pond
• solar sail
• solar system
• solar wind

Rhymes for solar

• bowler
• choler
• dolor
• molar
• polar
• roller
• soler
• stroller
• troller
• volar
• ambipolar
• areolar

Kids Definition

solar

adjective

so·​lar ˈsō-lər 

-ˌlär

1

: of, derived from, relating to, or caused by the sun

2

: measured by the earth's course in relation to the sun

solar time

solar year

3

a

: produced or operated by the action of the sun's light or heat

solar energy

b

: using the sun's rays especially to produce heat or electricity

a solar house

Etymology

Middle English solar "derived from or related to the sun," from Latin solaris (same meaning), from sol "sun" — related to sunday see Word History at sunday