English Reference

Word

interstellar

Phoneticsin·ter·stel·lar

US/ˌɪntɝˈstɛɫɝ/

UK/ˌɪntəstˈɛlɐ/

Definition

adj. describing the space between stars or travel that happens between them.

adj. situated or occurring between the stars of a galaxy. Often used in scientific contexts to describe the vast regions of space or the medium found there.

Examples

“Scientists study interstellar dust to learn about how stars form.”

“The Voyager 1 spacecraft became the first human-made object to enter interstellar space in 2012.”

“Theoretical physics suggests that interstellar travel would require propulsion systems capable of reaching a significant fraction of the speed of light to bridge the gap between solar systems.”

Examples

simple

“Scientists study interstellar dust to learn about how stars form.”

contextual

“The Voyager 1 spacecraft became the first human-made object to enter interstellar space in 2012.”

complex

“Theoretical physics suggests that interstellar travel would require propulsion systems capable of reaching a significant fraction of the speed of light to bridge the gap between solar systems.”

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun.

Real-World Examples

Common in science writing

“As an astrochemist and radio astronomer , I study the places in the universe where stars are born as interstellar laboratories.”
The Conversation · 14 Aug 2026
“The result gives astronomers a broader view of stars, interstellar gas, and distant galaxies throughout the cosmos.”
ScienceDaily · 14 Aug 2026
“Researchers have long considered this quiet region of the spectrum a potentially logical meeting place for interstellar communication.”
ScienceDaily · 30 Jul 2026
“A Rare Comet Made History as the Third Known Interstellar Object to Fly Through Our Solar System.”
Smithsonian Magazine · 29 Jun 2026

Etymology

From inter- + stellar.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Collocations

interstellar space

The word in film

Interstellar · 2014 · Sci-Fi

Directed by:
Christopher Nolan
Starring:
Matt Damon, Michael Caine, Matthew McConaughey

Christopher Nolan directs this epic sci-fi adventure about a group of explorers who travel through a wormhole to find a new home for humanity. The title describes their journey across the vast distances between different star systems in deep space.

Domain

Astronomy

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference