What does "galaxy" mean?
The Milky Way; the apparent band of concentrated stars which appears in the night sky over earth.
Galaxy
/ˈɡæl.ək.si/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The Milky Way; the apparent band of concentrated stars which appears in the night sky over earth.
- Grammar: galaxy is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: army, array, barred spiral, barred spiral galaxy.
- Useful contrasts: empty space, fewness, paucity.
- Usage evidence: There are innumerable stars in the galaxy.
How to use "galaxy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "galaxy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "galaxy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "galaxy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "galaxy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "galaxy" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "army" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "galaxy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The Milky Way; the apparent band of concentrated stars which appears in the night sky over earth. archaic
"So may thy cheekes red outweare scarlet dye, / And their white, whitenesse of the Galaxie [...]."
- 2 a splendid assemblage (especially of famous people) wordnet
- 3 Any of the collections of many millions or billions of stars, galactic dust, black holes, etc. existing as independent and coherent systems, of which there are billions in the known universe.
- 4 (astronomy) a collection of star systems; any of the billions of systems each having many stars and nebulae and dust wordnet
- 5 An assemblage of things or people seen as luminous or brilliant. figuratively
"[a] galaxy of science fiction stars."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 tufted evergreen perennial herb having spikes of tiny white flowers and glossy green round to heart-shaped leaves that become coppery to maroon or purplish in fall wordnet
- 7 Any print or pattern reminiscent of a galaxy, generally consisting of blending, semiopaque patches of vibrant color on a dark background.
"Her walls and ceiling were covered with galaxy wallpaper; it was like stepping into space."
Verb
- 1 To furnish with galaxies. transitive
"[…] how he struggled at one time like a desperate man fiercly ^([sic]) grappling with his mortal foe, and at another like a sanguine lover and noble minded youth, as the cliffy rocks impeded his progress, or dimmed the view he had caught of an aperture, through which the galaxied firmament was seen in its purity and holiness glowing with diamonds and saphires; […]"
- 2 To gather together into a luminous whole. archaic, transitive
"Let all their Vertues then be Galaxied into this one Indiſtinct Luſtre, they vvere Faithful Servants of Chriſt, and Sufferers for their being ſo."
Proper Noun
- 1 The Milky Way Galaxy. dated, proscribed
"See yonder, lo, the Galaxyë / Which men clepeth the Milky Wey, / For hit is whyt."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"There are innumerable stars in the galaxy."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "galaxy"?
Common synonyms include: army, array, barred spiral, barred spiral galaxy, beetleweed, big name.
How do you use "galaxy" in a sentence?
There are innumerable stars in the galaxy.
How do you pronounce "galaxy"?
Pronounced /ˈɡæl.ək.si/.
Etymology
From Middle English galaxye, galaxie, from Old French galaxie, from Latin galaxias, from Ancient Greek γαλαξίας (galaxías, “Milky Way”), shortening of γαλαξίας κύκλος (galaxías kúklos, “milky circle”), from γάλα (gála, “milk”).