Copernicus

American  

[koh-pur-ni-kuhs, kuh-] / koʊˈpɜr nɪ kəs, kə- /

noun

1. Nicolaus Mikolaj Kopernik, 1473–1543, Polish astronomer who promulgated the now accepted theory that the earth and the other planets move around the sun the Copernican System.

2. a crater in the second quadrant of the face of the moon, having an extensive ray system: about 56 miles (90 kilometers) in diameter from crest to crest with walls rising about 12,000 feet (3,650 meters) from its floor; having several central mountains the highest being about 2,400 feet (730 meters).

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Copernicus ¹ British  

/ kəˈpɜːnɪkəs /

noun

1. Nicolaus (ˌnɪkəˈleɪəs). Polish name Mikolaj Kopernik. 1473–1543, Polish astronomer, whose theory of the solar system (the Copernican system ) was published in 1543

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Copernicus ² British  

/ kəˈpɜːnɪkəs /

noun

1. a conspicuous crater on the moon, over 4000 metres deep and 90 kilometres in diameter, from which a system of rays emanates

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Copernicus Scientific  

/ kō-pûr′nə-kəs /

1. Polish astronomer whose theory that Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun provided the foundation for modern astronomy. His model displaced earlier theories that positioned Earth at the center of the solar system with all objects orbiting it.

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Other Word Forms

• Copernican adjective

Etymology

Origin of Copernicus

First recorded in 1580–90; Latinized form of Kopernik, Koppernik, Koppernigk

Example Sentences

Oil tanker Bella 1 was spotted at Kharg Island on Aug. 19 by the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

The Northern Hemisphere was hit by severe cold waves in the final weeks of January as a polar jet stream blew icy air into Europe and North America, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

With the 2026 Winter Olympics now in full swing, imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission offers a clear and striking look at northern Italy, bringing several major Olympic locations into view from space.

From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026

The past 11 years have been the 11 warmest on record, according to Copernicus.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2026

Copernicus published his magnum opus on his deathbed—in 1543, just before the church started clamping down on new ideas.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife