stellar

adjective

stel·​lar ˈste-lər How to pronounce stellar (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to the stars : astral
b
: composed of stars
2
: of or relating to a theatrical or film star
stellar names
3
a
: principal, leading
a stellar role
b
: outstanding
a stellar performance

Did you know?

Stella, the Latin word for "star," shines brightly in the word constellation, but stella words have been favored by scientists to describe earthly things as much as heavenly bodies. Stellar was once used to mean "star-shaped." That use is no longer current, but today biologists and geologists might use one of these synonyms: stellular, stellate, and stelliform. Poets, too, have looked to stella. John Milton used stellar in its infancy when he wrote in Paradise Lost "these soft fires … shed down their stellar virtue." Stellar shot into its leading role as a synonym of star (as when we say "stellar pupil") in the late 1800s.

Examples of stellar in a Sentence

the rate of stellar expansion The movie has a stellar cast.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most of the properties in the top 10, while selling for stellar sums, only went under contract after reporting significant price cuts. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 But Mauve, Tessenyi said, will help the researchers zoom in on the most promising stellar systems, to make Twinkle's work easier. Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2025 They’re not only backed by stellar customer ratings, but also are reasonably priced. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025 Then, after a stellar year before the Games, Su was chosen to represent his nation. Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stellar

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin stellaris, from Latin stella star — more at star

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of stellar was circa 1656

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Cite this Entry

“Stellar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stellar. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

stellar

adjective
stel·​lar ˈstel-ər How to pronounce stellar (audio)
1
: of or relating to the stars
stellar light
2
a
: principal entry 1, leading
a stellar role
b
: outstanding sense 3
a stellar performance

More from Merriam-Webster on stellar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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