orbiter

noun

or·​bit·​er ˈȯr-bə-tər How to pronounce orbiter (audio)
: one that orbits: such as
a
: a spacecraft designed to orbit a celestial body without landing on its surface
b
: space shuttle

Examples of orbiter 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.
The moon is about 14,913 miles (24,000 kilometers) from the Martian surface, and orbiters have observed it since the 1970s — including a recent flyby of the European Space Agency’s Hera mission in March 2025. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026 The orbiter will carry a particle detector that will be Thailand’s first piece of space hardware to leave Earth orbit and will measure incoming particles from around the solar system. — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026 The orbiter’s narrow-angle camera can spot features as small as three feet wide. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 If the orbiter took its photos only 10 seconds off its mark, the subject would have already moved 10 miles off-center. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for orbiter

Word History

Etymology

orbit entry 3 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of orbiter was in 1951

Browse Nearby Words

orbitelous spider
orbiter
orbitoid
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Orbiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orbiter. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

orbiter

noun
or·​bit·​er ˈȯr-bət-ər How to pronounce orbiter (audio)
1
: one that orbits
2
: space shuttle
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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