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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 That use is no longer current, but today biologists and geologists might use one of these synonyms: stellular, stellate, and stelliform.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
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The winners of the 2025 ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Award have been revealed, showcasing a spectacular selection of night sky images that reveal the majesty of ancient galaxies, nebulas, stellar cities and of course, Earth's moon.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Learn from three expert instructors how to showcase your skills, build a stellar reputation, and create a digital presence that AI can't replicate.
—Dr. Sue Varma, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Major League Baseball analyst Jim Riley predicted the Dodgers would target New York Mets superstar closer Edwin Diaz, who is set to opt out of his $102 million contract at the end of another stellar season.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Stellar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stellar. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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stellar
adjective
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