ellipticity
noun
el·lip·tic·i·ty
i-ˌlip-ˈti-sə-tē 
(ˌ)e-
: deviation of an ellipse or a spheroid from the form of a circle or a sphere
Examples of ellipticity in a Sentence
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It’s been known for decades that these effects can change the ellipticity of Mercury’s orbit, sometimes stretching it out into a long oval.
—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
26 June 2025
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Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ellipticity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ellipticity. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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