What does "syzygy" mean?
An alignment of three celestial bodies (for example, the Sun, Earth, and Moon) such that one body is directly between the other two, such as occurs at an eclipse.
Syzygy
/ˈsɪz.ɪ.d͡ʒi/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An alignment of three celestial bodies (for example, the Sun, Earth, and Moon) such that one body is directly between the other two, such as occurs at an eclipse.
- Grammar: syzygy is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: accent, alignment, anapest, beat.
- Useful contrasts: independence, misalignment, separation.
- Usage evidence: Tom was worried about the approaching trisolar syzygy.
How to use "syzygy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "syzygy" 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 "syzygy" 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 "syzygy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "syzygy" 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 "syzygy" is acting as noun 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 "accent" 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 "syzygy", 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 An alignment of three celestial bodies (for example, the Sun, Earth, and Moon) such that one body is directly between the other two, such as occurs at an eclipse. countable, uncountable
"The duration of an eclipse depends on the relative positions of the sun, moon, and earth in their syzygy."
- 2 the straight line configuration of 3 celestial bodies (as the sun and earth and moon) in a gravitational system wordnet
- 3 An archetypal pairing of contrasexual opposites, symbolizing the communication of the conscious and unconscious minds. countable, uncountable
"In 1936 Jung defends his concept of animus and anima by reference to the idea of the syzygy, concluding from the evidence in many different mythologies of the divine couple, united by a sacred marriage, that this motif is as universal as the existence of men and women. He postulates that in the syzygy the archetypal union of the parents is expressed, the mother corresponding to the anima."
- 4 A relation between generators of a module. countable, uncountable
"A finitely presented module is an A-module M given by a finite number of generators and relations. Therefore it is a module with a finite generator set having a finitely generated syzygy module."
- 5 The fusion of some or all of the organs. countable, uncountable
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 The association of two protozoa end-to-end or laterally for the purpose of asexual exchange of genetic material. countable, uncountable
"When two or more arm-joints meet transversely by a rigid suture, and only the upper one is pinnule-bearing, those joints form a syzygy, whether their apposed faces are striated, dotted, or smooth."
- 7 The pairing of chromosomes in meiosis. countable, uncountable
- 8 Complementary female–male pairings of the emanations known as Aeons. countable, uncountable
Example
"Tom was worried about the approaching trisolar syzygy."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "syzygy"?
Common synonyms include: accent, alignment, anapest, beat, cadence, caesura.
How do you use "syzygy" in a sentence?
Tom was worried about the approaching trisolar syzygy.
How do you pronounce "syzygy"?
Pronounced /ˈsɪz.ɪ.d͡ʒi/.
Etymology
From Late Latin sȳzygia (“conjunction”), from Ancient Greek συζυγία (suzugía, “union, yoke, pair”). This word was recognized as English in 1847 (in its astronomical meaning).