hemispheric

adjective

hemi·​spher·​ic ˌhe-mə-ˈsfir-ik How to pronounce hemispheric (audio) -ˈsfer- How to pronounce hemispheric (audio)
variants or less commonly hemispherical
1
usually hemispherical : having the shape of a half of a sphere or a roughly spherical body : having the shape of a hemisphere
a hemispherical bowl
The hemispherical combustion chamber has been around since the early 1900s but found limited production acceptance until the middle part of the century.Owen Brady
The ground erupts in perfectly hemispheric hills that the locals call knobs.Alex Halberstadt
2
: relating to or representing one of the hemispheres (see hemisphere sense 1b) of the earth
… analyses of global, hemispheric and regional climate change over the last century …Daniel J. Leathers
Previous studies report hemispherical anomalies for seismic P waves propagating through the uppermost isotropic inner core …Marc Monnereau et al.
Thousands of anti-globalization protesters are expected to show up this week in Quebec as heads of state from 34 nations arrived to discuss a hemispheric free-trade zone.Susannah Meadows et al.
3
anatomy : of, relating to, or involving one of the brain's two cerebral hemispheres
right hemispheric ischemic stroke
Apraxia, or difficulty in selecting appropriate hand movements, is very common after left hemispheric damage.Doreen Kimura

Examples of hemispheric in a Sentence

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.
But many Central and South American nations remain wary of the U.S. For more than a century, Washington frequently employed heavy-handed tactics with its hemispheric neighbors. Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2025 Here are three takeaways: Less than best Last month, Vancouver had a Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal against Inter Miami three days after playing Minnesota and rotated its lineup to focus on the hemispheric tournament. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 29 May 2025 None, however, addressed Rubio’s suggestion that the crisis should be led by the OAS given its role as a hemispheric body. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025 The hemispheric focus also offers some insight into President Trump’s treatment of Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zalensky. Hersh Shefrin, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hemispheric

Word History

Etymology

hemispheric in part from hemisphere + -ic entry 1, in part borrowed from Middle French hemispherique; hemispherical from hemispheric + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hemispheric was in 1577

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Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

hemispheric

adjective
hemi·​spher·​ic
ˌhem-ə-ˈsfi(ə)r-ik,
-ˈsfer-
variants or hemispherical
-ˈsfir-i-kəl,
-ˈsfer-
: of or relating to a hemisphere

Medical Definition

hemispheric

adjective
hemi·​spher·​ic -ˈsfi(ə)r-ik How to pronounce hemispheric (audio) -ˈsfer- How to pronounce hemispheric (audio)
: of, relating to, or affecting a hemisphere (as a cerebral hemisphere)
hemispheric lesions
hemispheric localization of function

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