# galaxy

/ˈɡæɫəksi/ (US) · /ɡˈælɐksˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/galaxy
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. astronomy

noun · CEFR B1

a very large group of stars, dust, and gas held together by gravity in the universe.

For teachers: a massive, gravitationally bound system consisting of stars, stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and dark matter.

- Astronomers believe there are billions of galaxies in the observable universe.
- The Hubble Space Telescope has captured high-resolution images of spiral galaxies located millions of light-years away from our own Milky Way.

### 2. a brilliant group

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a group of very famous, talented, or beautiful people.

For teachers: a figurative assemblage of brilliant or distinguished people or things.

- The film festival attracted a galaxy of international stars to the city.
- The conference was attended by a galaxy of Nobel laureates, each presenting groundbreaking research in their respective fields.

## Examples

- The Milky Way is the galaxy where we live.
- Astronomers use powerful telescopes to observe a distant galaxy that formed shortly after the Big Bang.
- The collision of two spiral galaxies can result in a massive elliptical structure, triggering a burst of new star formation as gas clouds compress.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.