Aphelion

//əˈfiː.lɪ.ən// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The point in the elliptical orbit of a comet, planet, or other astronomical object, where it is farthest from the Sun. also, figuratively

    "[I]t follows from the theory of gravity, that the aphelia of Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and Mars, slightly progress."

  2. 2
    apoapsis in solar orbit; the point in the orbit of a planet or comet that is at the greatest distance from the sun wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
apheliumapogeecircleeclipticequatorequinox

Example

More examples

"The aphelion is the point where an object in orbit around the Sun is furthest from the Sun."

Etymology

From New Latin aphēlium (whence English aphelium, now displaced) + -ion (used in the names of other apsides). Aphelium was formed from Ancient Greek ἀπο- (apo-, prefix meaning ‘away, from, off’) + ἥλῐος (hḗlĭos, “the sun”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sóh₂wl̥ (“the sun”)), modelled after New Latin apogaeum (“apogee”). The plural form aphelia is from aphelion + -a (plural form of the suffix -on).

More for "aphelion"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.