microgravity

noun

mi·​cro·​grav·​i·​ty ˌmī-krə-ˈgra-və-tē How to pronounce microgravity (audio)
: a condition in space in which only minuscule forces are experienced : virtual absence of gravity
broadly : a condition of weightlessness

Examples of microgravity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Research in space medicine has revealed various ways microgravity and other factors affect the human body during space missions. Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024 Why are Astronauts Getting Headaches? Van Oosterhout suspects that the part of the brain responsible for balance and posture receives different signals in microgravity. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 These include studying the effects of microgravity and UV radiation on plants, using stem cells to create models to study degenerative disease and testing whether wearing pressure cuffs on the legs could prevent fluid shifts and reduce health problems in astronauts. Russell Lewis, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 Additionally, because of the weightlessness in microgravity, blood and cerebrospinal fluid often shift upward from the lower extremities to the head and eyes, which is believed to cause eye and brain structural changes. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2023 While plenty of new technology will go into developing a nuclear reactor that can operate in microgravity, a lot of effort will also go into managing the vehicle's liquid hydrogen propellant. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 26 July 2023 In July 2022, the microbe was rocketed to the International Space Station to see if astronauts could grow the protein in microgravity. Claire Turrell, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Collins Aerospace, a private company hired to create spacesuits for use outside the International Space Station (ISS), has tested its suit aboard a commercial microgravity flight, passing a milestone that lets engineers move forward toward critical design review. Emilia David, The Verge, 12 Feb. 2024 Astronauts are up there doing basic research, understanding how microgravity ravages the human body, advancing commercial space, and much more. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 18 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of microgravity was in 1974

Dictionary Entries Near microgravity

Cite this Entry

“Microgravity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microgravity. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

microgravity

noun
mi·​cro·​grav·​i·​ty ˌmī-krə-ˈgrav-ət-ē How to pronounce microgravity (audio)
: the condition of being weightless or of the near absence of gravity

More from Merriam-Webster on microgravity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!