Milky Way

noun

1
: a broad luminous irregular band of light that stretches completely around the celestial sphere and is caused by the light of myriads of faint stars
2
: milky way galaxy

Examples of 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.
Thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have shed light on a recent chapter in the history of our Milky Way's neighboring galaxy, Andromeda. — Rahul Rao, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Our Milky Way galaxy is very roughly 100,000 light-years across. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026 Here's everything to know about our Milky Way, including how to see the stunning natural phenomenon. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 July 2026 July’s Milky Way Window The most important observing period of July begins after the last-quarter moon on July 7 and continues through the nights around new moon on July 14. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for Milky Way

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Milky Way was in the 14th century

Rhymes for Milky Way

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Browse Nearby Words

milky mangrove
Milky Way
Milky Way galaxy
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Cite this Entry

“Milky Way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Milky%20Way. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Milky Way

noun
1
: a broad band of light that stretches across the sky and is caused by the light of a very great number of faint stars
2
: milky way galaxy
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