Sagan

American  

[sey-guhn, sa-gahn] / ˈseɪ gən, saˈgɑ̃ /

noun

1. Carl (Edward), 1934–96, U.S. astronomer and writer.

2. Françoise Françoise Quoirez, 1935–2004, French novelist.

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Sagan British  

/ saɡã̃ /

noun

1. Carl ( Edward ) 1934–96, US astronomer and writer on scientific subjects; presenter of the television series Cosmos (1980)

2. Françoise (frã̃swɑːz), original name Françoise Quoirez . 1935–2004, French writer, best-known for the novels Bonjour Tristesse (1954) and Aimez-vous Brahms? (1959)

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Example Sentences

But nuclear policy expert Sagan said the likelihood of the conflict escalating to involve nuclear weapons is “exceedingly low,” even if Iran has the capability to build them.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Professor Lisa Kaltenegger, director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University, led the research alongside a team of undergraduate students.

From Science Daily • Mar. 25, 2026

Writing tool Grammarly has disabled an AI feature which mimicked personas of prominent writers, including Stephen King and scientist Carl Sagan, following a backlash from people impersonated.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Despite the vastness of space and the complexities of our problems, that answer alone offers fuel for the fire of hope and wonder Carl Sagan ignited in me long ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

And though Sagan has exponentially more stars, they twinkle the same here as they did in the New Mexican desert, lying on her black-and-red striped blanket, my cheek resting on her chest.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera