galaxy

noun

gal·​axy ˈga-lək-sē How to pronounce galaxy (audio)
plural galaxies
1
a
often capitalized : milky way galaxy
used with the
b
: any of the very large groups of stars and associated matter that are found throughout the universe
2
a
: an assemblage of brilliant or notable persons or things
a galaxy of artists
b
: world sense 11
remained galaxies apart on the issueNewsweek

Did you know?

The system of stars that includes our sun looks, in the night sky, like a broad band of light. We call this band the Milky Way. The idea of the whiteness of the Milky Way being similar to that of milk is much older than the English language, however. Galaxias, the Greek word for the Milky Way, was derived from the Greek gala, “milk.” English galaxy, derived from Greek galaxias, was not used until the 19th century as a generic term for other star systems as well as the one in which we live.

Examples of galaxy in a Sentence

The event was attended by a galaxy of artists. they're a galaxy apart when it comes to politics
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Here's what to know about how the powerful forces may have shaped galaxies and how the discovery may help astronomers better study black holes. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 June 2025 However, this design allows for more light transfer through the lens, helping keen astronomers to see distant planets and galaxies. Matt Morris, Space.com, 6 June 2025 The way dark matter and stars interact influences how galaxies change over time. Stephen Clark – Jun 6, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025 Galactic impact update For more than 100 years, a collision between the Milky Way galaxy and its largest neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy, was predicted to occur in about 4.5 billion years. Jade Walker, CNN Money, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for galaxy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English galaxias, galaxie, borrowed from Late Latin galaxias, borrowed from Greek galaxías (probably originally conjoined with kýklos "wheel"), from galakt-, stem of gála "milk" (going back to Indo-European *glkt-, attested elsewhere only in Latin lact-, lac "milk," Armenian kat'n) + -ias, noun suffix, especially of natural phenomena

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of galaxy was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Galaxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/galaxy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

galaxy

noun
gal·​axy ˈgal-ək-sē How to pronounce galaxy (audio)
plural galaxies
1
2
: one of the very large groups of stars and other matter that are found throughout the universe
Etymology

Middle English galaxie "the Milky Way," from Latin galaxias (same meaning), from Greek galaxias "Milky Way," from galakt-, gala "milk"

More from Merriam-Webster on galaxy

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