solar system

noun

: the sun together with the group of celestial bodies that are held by its attraction and revolve around it

also : a similar system centered on another star

Examples of solar system in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists have detected a higher-than-usual ratio of carbon dioxide to water compared with typical solar system comets, as well as gas unusually rich in nickel relative to iron. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 28 Nov. 2025

Originally, the material that Bennu is made up of came from supernovas, explosions of old stars that occurred well before the formation of the solar system. —Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 27 Nov. 2025

These could be the best places in our solar system to look for extraterrestrial life, according to the researchers looking inside icy moons. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

Since entering interstellar space, the craft has been studying plasma waves, cosmic rays and magnetic fields in the heliosphere, the immense bubble of solar wind around the solar system. —George Petras, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1704, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for solar system

• cryptosystem
• ecosystem
• intersystem
• multisystem
• photosystem
• subsystem

Kids Definition

solar system

noun

: a star with the group of heavenly bodies that revolve around it

especially : the sun with the planets, moons, asteroids, and comets that orbit it