stellar

adjective

stel·​lar ˈste-lər How to pronounce stellar (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to the stars : astral
b
: composed of stars
2
: of or relating to a theatrical or film star
stellar names
3
a
: principal, leading
a stellar role
b
: outstanding
a stellar performance

Did you know?

Stella, the Latin word for "star," shines brightly in the word constellation, but stella words have been favored by scientists to describe earthly things as much as heavenly bodies. Stellar was once used to mean "star-shaped." That use is no longer current, but today biologists and geologists might use one of these synonyms: stellular, stellate, and stelliform. Poets, too, have looked to stella. John Milton used stellar in its infancy when he wrote in Paradise Lost "these soft fires … shed down their stellar virtue." Stellar shot into its leading role as a synonym of star (as when we say "stellar pupil") in the late 1800s.

Examples of stellar in a Sentence

the rate of stellar expansion The movie has a stellar cast.
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.
Joining Whitaker is a stellar ensemble cast, including Ilfenesh Hadera, Lucy Fry, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Erik LaRay Harvey, Michael Raymond James, Elvis Nolasco, and Erik Palladino. Okla Jones, Essence, 11 Mar. 2025 Godwin dislocated his ankle in a loss to the Ravens just seven weeks into the season and was on track for yet another stellar season. Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025 After a stellar three seasons with the team, he was sent to the Texans for two first-round picks, a second-round pick, Johnson Bademosi, and Julien Davenport. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025 Mele has played an invaluable part in putting together stellar casts for our highest-profile current series. Joe Otterson, Variety, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stellar

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin stellaris, from Latin stella star — more at star

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of stellar was circa 1656

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Cite this Entry

“Stellar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stellar. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

stellar

adjective
stel·​lar ˈstel-ər How to pronounce stellar (audio)
1
: of or relating to the stars
stellar light
2
a
: principal entry 1, leading
a stellar role
b
: outstanding sense 3
a stellar performance

More from Merriam-Webster on stellar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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