mesopause

noun

me·​so·​pause ˈme-zə-ˌpȯz How to pronounce mesopause (audio)
ˈmē-, 
-sə-
: the upper boundary of the mesosphere where the temperature of the atmosphere reaches its lowest point

Examples of mesopause 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.
Aura satellite showed temperatures near the mesopause increased in the past few days and are about average for this time of year. — Kasha Patel, Washington Post, 1 July 2022 This altitude corresponds with the mesopause, which is the outermost physical boundary of Earth's atmosphere where meteors typically burn up. — Eric Betz, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2021 Visit the burial site of Ham the Astrochimp, a fetching primate who uneventfully but quite involuntarily plunged through the mesopause himself in 1961. — John Phillips, Car and Driver, 9 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

mesosphere + pause

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mesopause was in 1950

Rhymes for mesopause

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Browse Nearby Words

Mesonyx
mesopause
mesopelagic
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Cite this Entry

“Mesopause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesopause. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mesopause

noun
me·​so·​pause ˈmez-ə-ˌpȯz How to pronounce mesopause (audio)
ˈmēz-, 
ˈmēs-, 
ˈmes-
: the upper boundary of the mesosphere at which the temperature of the atmosphere reaches its lowest point

More from Merriam-Webster on mesopause

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mesopause

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