stratosphere

noun

strato·​sphere ˈstra-tə-ˌsfir 

1

: the part of the earth's atmosphere which extends from the top of the troposphere to about 30 miles (50 kilometers) above the surface and in which temperature increases gradually to about 32°F (0°C) and clouds rarely form

2

: a very high or the highest region on or as if on a graded scale

construction costs in the stratosphere

the celebrity stratosphere

stratospheric

ˌstra-tə-ˈsfir-ik 

-ˈsfer-

adjective

stratospherically

ˌstra-tə-ˈsfir-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈsfer-

adverb

Did you know?

The stratosphere (strato- simply means "layer" or "level") lies above the earth's weather and mostly changes very little. It contains the ozone layer, which shields us from the sun's ultraviolet radiation except where it's been harmed by manmade chemicals. The levels of the atmosphere are marked particularly by their temperatures; stratospheric temperatures rise only to around 32°—very moderate considering that temperatures in the troposphere below may descend to about -70° and those in the ionosphere above may rise to 1000°.

Examples of stratosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Current satellite data measures ozone separately in the lower, middle, and upper stratosphere, and model simulations help scientists work out the causes of any changes in these layers. — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026

The series, which started as a humble dramedy about a fancy chef taking over his family sandwich shop, has become one of the biggest word-of-mouth sensations of post-pandemic TV, garnering (so far) 21 Emmys and launching its mostly unknown cast into the Hollywood stratosphere. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Malian star soccer forward Mamadou Sidibé exudes understated competence and resourcefulness in his hopsack-weave linen suit en route into Dior Homme on June 24, but what really carries this outfit into the ice-cold stratosphere of style is the choice of the tie-free wing collar. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Perhaps Boone did not want to insult the other starting pitchers in his clubhouse, but there isn’t another American League starter in the same stratosphere as Schlittler this season. — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 20 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French stratosphère, probably from stratus stratus (from the zone's layer-like character, compared to stratus clouds) + -o- -o- + -sphère -sphere

Note: The term was introduced, along with troposphère, by the French meteorologist Léon Tesserenc de Bort (1855-1913). See note at troposphere.

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stratosphere

• the stratosphere

Rhymes for stratosphere

• atmosphere
• biosphere
• centromere
• chemosphere
• chromosphere
• hemisphere
• hydrosphere
• lithosphere
• mesosphere
• microsphere
• miserere
• mountaineer

Kids Definition

stratosphere

noun

strato·​sphere ˈstrat-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r 

: an upper portion of the atmosphere above the troposphere where temperature changes little and clouds rarely form