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

The fire is believed to have started on the solar array on the roof of the 500,000 square-foot building, which housed 85 million pounds of frozen food. — Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

Urban areas, which retain heat through solar energy absorbed by pavement, brick and concrete, compounded by the long daylight hours of June and July, may see overnight lows persist above 80 degrees. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Spiking demand for electricity from data centers and stressed urban grids is boosting installations of large solar and battery storage systems, but there’s still a huge need for reliable base power generation to supplement renewable power. — Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Either way, be sure to look up — a burst of solar material traveling toward Earth could present the opportunity to witness the aurora borealis from parts of the northern United States overnight on Monday, June 29, into Tuesday, June 30. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 June 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
• dolor
• molar
• polar
• roller
• soler
• stroller
• troller
• volar
• ambipolar
• areolar
• bronchiolar

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