astronaut
noun
as·tro·naut
ˈa-strə-ˌnȯt 
-ˌnät
plural astronauts
: a person whose profession is to travel beyond the earth's atmosphere
NASA on Wednesday introduced the group of astronauts it has chosen for upcoming missions to the moon. The program, called Artemis, aims to send people back to the moon for the first time since the end of NASA's Apollo program in 1972.—
Kenneth Chang
Kenneth Chang
broadly
: any person who travels beyond the earth's atmosphere
William Shatner, the 90-year-old actor of "Star Trek" fame, endured a 10-minute, rocket-powered ride to the edge of space … . In that moment, at least one thing became certain: Yes, a nonagenarian can be an astronaut. —Jackie Wattles
Jackie Wattles 
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Dragon capsules can also carry up to seven astronauts into orbit, though most of SpaceX's Crew missions, which are contracted with NASA, feature a contingent of four.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Geomagnetic storms can wreck satellites, trigger radio blackouts and power outages and endanger astronauts by exposing them to intense radiation, according to the statement.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2025
Ellie settles in, closes her eyes, and escapes the planet with those three astronauts.
—EW.com, 19 May 2025
From 1968 through 1972, NASA sent two dozen Apollo astronauts hurtling through the danger zones.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 19 May 2025
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Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Geomagnetic storms can wreck satellites, trigger radio blackouts and power outages and endanger astronauts by exposing them to intense radiation, according to the statement.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2025
Ellie settles in, closes her eyes, and escapes the planet with those three astronauts.
—EW.com, 19 May 2025
From 1968 through 1972, NASA sent two dozen Apollo astronauts hurtling through the danger zones.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for astronaut
Cite this Entry
“Astronaut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astronaut. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
astronaut
noun
as·tro·naut
ˈas-trə-ˌnȯt
-nät
: a traveler in a spacecraft
astronautic
adjective
ˌas-trə-ˈnȯt-ik
or astronautical
-i-kəl,
-nät-
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