sunspot

noun

sun·​spot ˈsən-ˌspät How to pronounce sunspot (audio)
: any of the dark spots that appear at times on the sun's surface and are usually visible only through a telescope

Examples of sunspot 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.
There were new sunspots and rivulet lines over her face, like an aerial map. — Literary Hub, 22 June 2026 Solar flares are sudden bursts of energy released when magnetic fields around sunspots become twisted and reconnect. — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 1 July 2026 The microscopic lens successfully mapped the intense magnetic fields inside active sunspots. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 June 2026 The appearance of more sunspots, active regions and solar eruptions all signal to scientists that the Sun is entering its solar maximum phase. — Yeimy J. Rivera, The Conversation, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sunspot

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sunspot was in 1676

Rhymes for sunspot

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Browse Nearby Words

sun spider
sunspot
sunspot cycle
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Cite this Entry

“Sunspot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunspot. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sunspot

noun
sun·​spot -ˌspät How to pronounce sunspot (audio)
: one of the dark spots that appear from time to time on the sun's surface and are usually visible only through a telescope

More from Merriam-Webster on sunspot

Nglish: Translation of sunspot for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sunspot

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