heliocentrism
1 synonym and 1 antonym for heliocentrism, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The model of the universe in which the Sun sits at the centre.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
heliocentricity
Antonyms
geocentrism
How to use heliocentrism
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
theory of heliocentrism
heliocentrism versus geocentrism
model of heliocentrism
It is mainly used in astronomy and history of science rather than casual speech.
Etymology
Heliocentrism is a shortened form of heliocentricism, itself built from heliocentric plus the suffix -ism. The root ultimately goes back to the Ancient Greek words for sun and centre, joined together to describe a sun-centred view of the universe.
Full origin of heliocentrism →Frequently asked questions
What does heliocentrism mean?
Heliocentrism is the idea that the Sun, rather than the Earth, lies at the centre of the universe or solar system.
What is the opposite of heliocentrism?
The opposite is geocentrism, the older view that placed the Earth at the centre.
Is heliocentrism the same as saying the Earth orbits the Sun?
In everyday use, yes, people often use heliocentrism loosely to mean that the Earth goes round the Sun.
