stellar

adjective

stel·​lar ˈste-lər 

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 That use is no longer current, but today biologists and geologists might use one of these synonyms: stellular, stellate, and stelliform.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.

Synonyms of stellar

• celestial
• interstellar
• star
• starry

Examples of stellar in a Sentence

the rate of stellar expansion

The movie has a stellar cast.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s plenty to keep you busy both on and off the property—just make sure to be back for their stellar sunsets. — Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026

To top it off, quite literally, the salon features a Rolls-Royce-style starlight ceiling, putting a stellar scene above you by night. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026

Steven Conrad’s dark comedy about suburban loneliness earned 13 nominations, including supporting acting nods for each member of its stellar ensemble — Jason Bateman, David Harbour, Linda Cardellini, Richard Jenkins and Joy Sunday. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

The lack of stellar velo certainly caps his ceiling as a backend type, but that outcome would represent a great scouting and development story for the Rays. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026

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

Phrases Containing stellar

• quasi-stellar object
• stellar wind
• sub-stellar

Rhymes for stellar

• beller
• cellar
• dweller
• eller
• feller
• meller
• sellar
• seller
• sheller
• speller
• bestseller
• bookseller

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Kids Definition

stellar

adjective

stel·​lar ˈstel-ər 

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