suborbital

adjective

sub·​or·​bit·​al ˌsəb-ˈȯr-bə-tᵊl 

1

: situated beneath the eye or the orbit of the eye

2

: being or involving less than one orbit (as of the earth or moon)

also : intended for suborbital flight

Examples of suborbital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Blue Origin is gearing up for its NS-37 flight, which will rocket six passengers to suborbital space and back. —Leonard David, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025

Moskowitz has reported live from rocket launches, space shuttle liftoffs and landings, suborbital spaceflight training, mountaintop observatories, and more. —Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 15 Nov. 2025

With this accomplishment, Blue Origin has been able to build on its previous experience and success with its suborbital rocket, New Shepard. —Wendy Whitman Cobb, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025

Thursday’s mission represented a dramatic step forward in Blue Origin’s capability from its single-stage, suborbital New Shepard rocket. —PC Magazine, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for suborbital

• infraorbital
• postorbital
• interorbital
• periorbital
• supraorbital
• orbital

Medical Definition

suborbital

adjective

sub·​or·​bit·​al ˌsəb-ˈȯr-bət-ᵊl 

: situated or occurring beneath the eye or the orbit of the eye

suborbital fat