mesosphere

noun

me·​so·​sphere ˈme-zə-ˌsfir How to pronounce mesosphere (audio)
ˈmē-, 
-sə-
: the part of the earth's atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere in which temperature decreases with altitude to the atmosphere's absolute minimum
mesospheric
ˌme-zə-ˈsfir-ik How to pronounce mesosphere (audio)
ˌmē-, 
-sə-, 
-ˈsfer-
adjective

Examples of mesosphere 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.
Just don’t stick the ceiling in the mesosphere. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 May 2026 After a lightning strike, red sprites may appear in Earth’s mesosphere, high above a thunderstorm. — Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025 Unlike the familiar bolts that crack down from clouds to the ground, sprites shoot upward into the mesosphere, often appearing red or pink, due to the interaction of nitrogen molecules with high-energy electrons. — Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025 The clouds tend to form near polar regions, where the mesosphere is at its coldest, according to the Royal Meteorological Society. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mesosphere

Word History

Etymology

meso- + -sphere

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mesosphere was in 1950

Rhymes for mesosphere

See All Rhymes for mesosphere

Browse Nearby Words

mesosomic
mesosphere
mesospore
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

mesosphere

noun
me·​so·​sphere ˈmez-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r How to pronounce mesosphere (audio)
ˈmēz-, 
ˈmēs-, 
ˈmes-
: a layer of the atmosphere extending from the top of the stratosphere to an altitude of about 50 miles (80 kilometers)

More from Merriam-Webster on mesosphere

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mesosphere

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