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

After reaching orbit, Orion deployed its four solar arrays–angled away from the spacecraft in a way that evokes an X-Wing from Star Wars–while flight controllers worked through a brief communications glitch. —Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026

Data center critics worry that the development boom could increase natural gas use, affecting the transition to wind, solar and other renewable sources and slowing goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. —Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026

Cost-efficient energy and chemical production Researchers revealed that solar-power photocatalysis – turning sunlight into energy – holds promise for sustainable and cost-efficient energy and chemical production. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026

Alternatively, a highly eccentric merger with more comparable masses, of ~100 solar masses apiece, could also fit the data. —Big Think, 3 Apr. 2026

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