satellite
noun
sat·el·lite
ˈsa-tə-ˌlīt 
1
a
: a celestial body orbiting another of larger size
b
: a manufactured object or vehicle intended to orbit the earth, the moon, or another celestial body
2
: someone or something attendant, subordinate, or dependent
especially
: a country politically and economically dominated or controlled by another more powerful country
3
: a usually independent urban community situated near but not immediately adjacent to a large city
satellite
adjective
Examples of satellite in a Sentence
Satellites help meteorologists predict the weather.
Images of the planet are sent by satellite.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bringing a satellite device into India can get you into trouble.
—
Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 7 June 2025
The Siempre Selena channel is available through July 3 on the SiriusXM app, and on satellite channel 79 from June 4 to 10.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 7 June 2025
The Defense Department has also come to rely heavily on SpaceX's Starlink global satellite internet service, with about 50 military commands now using it, according to Defense News.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 7 June 2025
United first started rolling out Starlink access using a free-with-ads model in May, becoming one of a select club—including Hawaiian Airlines and the boutique air carrier JSX—to offer flyers access to SpaceX’s satellite broadband service.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for satellite
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 7 June 2025
The Siempre Selena channel is available through July 3 on the SiriusXM app, and on satellite channel 79 from June 4 to 10.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 7 June 2025
The Defense Department has also come to rely heavily on SpaceX's Starlink global satellite internet service, with about 50 military commands now using it, according to Defense News.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 7 June 2025
United first started rolling out Starlink access using a free-with-ads model in May, becoming one of a select club—including Hawaiian Airlines and the boutique air carrier JSX—to offer flyers access to SpaceX’s satellite broadband service.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for satellite
Cite this Entry
“Satellite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/satellite. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
satellite
noun
sat·el·lite
ˈsat-ᵊl-ˌīt
1
: an obsequious follower of a distinguished person : toady
2
a
: a heavenly body orbiting another of larger size
b
: a man-made object or vehicle intended to orbit the earth, the moon, or another heavenly body
3
: a country controlled by a more powerful country
satellite
adjective
Etymology
from early French satellite "a person who follows or escorts someone of importance," from Latin satellit-, satelles "escort, attendant"
Word Origin
Although it is now closely connected with the modern world of space exploration, satellite is actually a very old word. Its origin can be traced to the Latin word satelles, meaning "one who escorts or follows after an important person." This is also the original meaning of satellite in English. Because such heavenly bodies as the moon can be thought of as "escorts" of the planets they orbit, they also became known as satellites. The satellites of modern times made by humans got their name because they, like the moon, orbit the earth.
Medical Definition
satellite
noun
sat·el·lite
ˈsat-ᵊl-ˌīt
1
: a short segment separated from the main body of a chromosome by a constriction
called also trabant
2
: the secondary or later member of a chain of gregarines
3
: a bodily structure lying near or associated with another (as a vein accompanying an artery)
4
: a smaller lesion accompanying a main one and situated nearby
5
: a spectral line of low intensity having a frequency close to that of another stronger line to which it is closely related (as by having a common energy level)
satellite
adjective
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