observatory

noun

ob·​ser·​va·​to·​ry əb-ˈzər-və-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce observatory (audio)
plural observatories
Synonyms of observatorynext
1
: a building or place given over to or equipped for observation of natural phenomena (as in astronomy)
also : an institution whose primary purpose is making such observations
2
: a situation or structure commanding a wide view

Synonyms of observatory

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Examples of observatory in a Sentence

the observatory is located on a mountaintop
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.
In September 2025, the agency awarded a contract to the Arizona company Katalyst Space Technologies to rescue the observatory, which was falling back to Earth thanks to atmospheric drag. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026 The observatory was developed following Halzen’s vision in the 1990s of building a detector deep beneath Antarctica’s surface. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026 About 70% of the members of Brazil’s lower house and 80% of the Senate are considered to be hostile to environmental and climate agendas, according to the observatory. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 To discover the truth, space agencies launched observatories to study (among other things) GRBs, including NASA’s Compton Gamma Ray Observatory and the European Space Agency’s Integral observatory. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for observatory

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin observātōrium "place for observing celestial phenomena," from Latin observāre "to give attention, watch carefully, observe" + -tōrium, suffix of place, noun derivative from neuter of -tōrius, deverbal adjective suffix originally forming derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tōr-, -tor

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of observatory was in 1673

Rhymes for observatory

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Browse Nearby Words

observatorial
observatory
observe
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Cite this Entry

“Observatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/observatory. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

observatory

noun
ob·​ser·​va·​to·​ry əb-ˈzər-və-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce observatory (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
plural observatories
1
: a place or institution equipped with instruments for observation of natural objects and events (as in astronomy)
2
: a place providing a wide view

More from Merriam-Webster on observatory

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about observatory

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