hemispheric

adjective

hemi·​spher·​ic ˌhe-mə-ˈsfir-ik How to pronounce hemispheric (audio) -ˈsfer- How to pronounce hemispheric (audio)
variants or less commonly hemispherical
1
usually hemispherical : having the shape of a half of a sphere or a roughly spherical body : having the shape of a hemisphere
a hemispherical bowl
The hemispherical combustion chamber has been around since the early 1900s but found limited production acceptance until the middle part of the century.Owen Brady
The ground erupts in perfectly hemispheric hills that the locals call knobs.Alex Halberstadt
2
: relating to or representing one of the hemispheres (see hemisphere sense 1b) of the earth
… analyses of global, hemispheric and regional climate change over the last century …Daniel J. Leathers
Previous studies report hemispherical anomalies for seismic P waves propagating through the uppermost isotropic inner core …Marc Monnereau et al.
Thousands of anti-globalization protesters are expected to show up this week in Quebec as heads of state from 34 nations arrived to discuss a hemispheric free-trade zone.Susannah Meadows et al.
3
anatomy : of, relating to, or involving one of the brain's two cerebral hemispheres
right hemispheric ischemic stroke
Apraxia, or difficulty in selecting appropriate hand movements, is very common after left hemispheric damage.Doreen Kimura

Examples of hemispheric in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The overview of America’s current immigration problems is rooted in hemispheric problems. Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 5 Feb. 2024 In calling former president Trump to account the U.S. is becoming more like Latin America, moving into alignment with hopeful hemispheric political trends. Ronn Pineo, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2024 In spite of his acculturation fantasies, Yunior’s contact with his Colombian neighbor, and his experiences with his father’s cruelties and his revolutionary uncle’s death, means that the hemispheric imaginary, the ghost-colonial imaginary, possesses him, for better or worse. Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023 Mexico, with friendly ties to Caracas and Havana, criticized that decision, and López Obrador boycotted the hemispheric gathering. Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2023 After Boric’s victory, President Joe Biden had called to offer congratulations, and to invite him to a summit of hemispheric leaders in Los Angeles. Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Meanwhile, in the southern hemispheric winter, fewer stretches of the Antarctic sea are freezing over. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 31 July 2023 All have authoritarian governments that Washington considers to be in violation of the democratic spirit that the hemispheric conference is supposed to promote. Tracy Wilkinsonstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2022 As irregular migration becomes more hemispheric, experts say, government management of migration needs to become more hemispheric. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hemispheric.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

hemispheric in part from hemisphere + -ic entry 1, in part borrowed from Middle French hemispherique; hemispherical from hemispheric + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hemispheric was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near hemispheric

Cite this Entry

“Hemispheric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hemispheric. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hemispheric

adjective
hemi·​spher·​ic
ˌhem-ə-ˈsfi(ə)r-ik,
-ˈsfer-
variants or hemispherical
-ˈsfir-i-kəl,
-ˈsfer-
: of or relating to a hemisphere

Medical Definition

hemispheric

adjective
hemi·​spher·​ic -ˈsfi(ə)r-ik How to pronounce hemispheric (audio) -ˈsfer- How to pronounce hemispheric (audio)
: of, relating to, or affecting a hemisphere (as a cerebral hemisphere)
hemispheric lesions
hemispheric localization of function

More from Merriam-Webster on hemispheric

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