orbiter

noun

or·​bit·​er ˈȯr-bə-tər How to pronounce orbiter (audio)
: one that orbits: such as
a
: a spacecraft designed to orbit a celestial body without landing on its surface
b
: space shuttle

Examples of orbiter 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.
At one moment the orbiter looks alive — with its black, doglike cone nose and deep nostrils. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 More landers, rovers and orbiters will follow, so many that by the time the first Artemis moonwalkers arrive, their moon car will already be there waiting for them, according to officials. — ABC News, 23 Oct. 2026 In 2019, the country launched the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, which carried the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Whatever happened to Maven last December was only the second time in the 21st century that NASA had lost contact with an orbiter during otherwise ordinary operations. — Margaret Landis, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for orbiter

Word History

Etymology

orbit entry 2 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of orbiter was in 1951

Browse Nearby Words

orbitelous spider
orbiter
orbitoid
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Orbiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orbiter. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

orbiter

noun
or·​bit·​er ˈȯr-bət-ər How to pronounce orbiter (audio)
1
: one that orbits
2
: space shuttle
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