observatory
noun
ob·ser·va·to·ry
əb-ˈzər-və-ˌtȯr-ē 
plural observatories
1
: a building or place given over to or equipped for observation of natural phenomena (as in astronomy)
also
: an institution whose primary purpose is making such observations
2
: a situation or structure commanding a wide view
Examples of observatory in a Sentence
the observatory is located on a mountaintop
Recent Examples on the Web
While the images released on April 2 by the European Space Agency provide a faint glimpse at the sizable meteor, the pictures also mark a significant milestone for the most powerful space observatory ever launched into orbit.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2025
Armed with data from three observatories, University of California, Berkeley, planetary scientist Chris Moeckel and his colleagues just needed to figure out what kinds of updrafts, downdrafts and heat transfer could best explain what Juno, Hubble and ALMA saw during and after the storm.
—Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Begich's office said the lease was officially reinstated on March 18, ensuring operations at the observatory would be uninterrupted.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
The observatory had the kind of communications infrastructure that this new global scientific hotline required.
—Ben Naddaff-Hafrey, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for observatory
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.
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2025
Armed with data from three observatories, University of California, Berkeley, planetary scientist Chris Moeckel and his colleagues just needed to figure out what kinds of updrafts, downdrafts and heat transfer could best explain what Juno, Hubble and ALMA saw during and after the storm.
—Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Begich's office said the lease was officially reinstated on March 18, ensuring operations at the observatory would be uninterrupted.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
The observatory had the kind of communications infrastructure that this new global scientific hotline required.
—Ben Naddaff-Hafrey, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for observatory
Cite this Entry
“Observatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/observatory. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
observatory
noun
ob·ser·va·to·ry
əb-ˈzər-və-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
plural observatories
1
: a place or institution equipped with instruments for observation of natural objects and events (as in astronomy)
2
: a place providing a wide view
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share