Astronautical

/ˌæs.troʊˈnɔː.tɪ.kəl/ adjective

Definition

Of or pertaining to astronauts, space travel, space exploration, and the science and technology that enables human spaceflight.

Etymology

From 'astronautic' plus the adjective-forming suffix '-al.' The term gained widespread use after 1961 with the Soviet Vostok program and American Mercury program.

Kelly Says

When Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, this word suddenly transformed from a rare technical term into everyday vocabulary—a perfect example of history changing language instantly!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.