sunspot

noun

sun·​spot ˈsən-ˌspät 

: any of the dark spots that appear at times on the sun's surface and are usually visible only through a telescope

Examples of sunspot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At the solar maximum, the number of sunspots – cooler patches that are caused by intense concentrations of magnetic field lines – increases. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2025

Key Background Visibility for the northern lights are forecasted to stay active into early 2026 since the sun reached a solar maximum in 2024, marking the peak of its solar activity characterized by an increase in sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. —Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025

This can include a sunspot, a radiator cover, or even a warm lap. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025

On September 1, 1859, Richard Carrington, an English amateur astronomer, witnessed an explosion of light from the sun while observing sunspots. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sunspot

• allot
• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot

Kids Definition

sunspot

noun

sun·​spot -ˌspät 

: one of the dark spots that appear from time to time on the sun's surface and are usually visible only through a telescope