galaxy
10 synonyms and 0 antonyms for galaxy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A massive system of stars, gas, dust, and often a central black hole, held together by gravity.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use galaxy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Greek galaxias, short for "milky circle," from gala ("milk") — describing the pale, milky band of the Milky Way visible in the night sky.
Full origin of galaxy →Frequently asked questions
What does “galaxy” mean?
The word “galaxy” means a massive system of stars, gas, dust, and often a central black hole, held together by gravity. In plain terms, a huge cluster of stars in space, or figuratively, an impressive gathering of talented or famous people.
How do you pronounce “galaxy”?
“Galaxy” is pronounced GAL-uhk-see (/ˈɡæl.ək.si/ in IPA).
How do you use “galaxy” in a sentence?
Here is “galaxy” used in a sentence: “Our solar system sits in the Orion Arm of the Milky Way galaxy.”
What is another word for “galaxy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “galaxy” include G, star city, trichiliocosm and island universe.
What part of speech is “galaxy”?
“Galaxy” is a noun.
Where does the word “galaxy” come from?
The word “galaxy” comes from Greek. From Greek galaxias, short for "milky circle," from gala ("milk") — describing the pale, milky band of the Milky Way visible in the night sky.
Is “galaxy” a common word?
“Galaxy” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “galaxy” have?
“Galaxy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a massive system of stars, gas, dust, and often a central black hole, held together by gravity.
What is the difference between a galaxy and a solar system?
A solar system is a single star with the planets and objects orbiting it, while a galaxy is a vast system containing billions of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity. Our solar system is just one tiny part of the Milky Way galaxy.
What is the difference between a galaxy and the universe?
A galaxy is one enormous system of stars bound together by gravity, whereas the universe is everything that exists, containing billions of galaxies. In short, galaxies are individual structures within the much larger universe.