the Milky Way

noun

: a broad band of light that can be seen in the night sky and that is caused by the light of a very large number of faint stars

: the galaxy in which we live that contains the stars that make up the Milky Way

Examples of the Milky Way in a Sentence

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.

Profound Implications If the Milky Way is nothing special, that has profound implications for the search for life outside of the solar system. —

Jamie Carter, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024 The Chandra X-ray Observatory, a sophisticated orbiting telescope, detected an X-ray flare leap from the center of the Milky Way into oblivion, offering nearly conclusive proof. —

Mark Jones, The Arizona Republic, 5 Sep. 2024 Light pollution plagues the majority of us; nearly 80 percent of Northern Americans (like me) can’t see the Milky Way from their home. —

Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 6 Aug. 2024 What transforms a quiet, everyday galaxy like the Milky Way into a brilliant cosmic beast, shining so brightly at every wavelength that it can be seen across the universe? —

Daniel Clery, science.org, 3 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for the Milky Way

Cite this Entry

Style

“The Milky Way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20Milky%20Way. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation