celestial
Americanadjective
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pertaining to the sky or visible heaven, or to the universe beyond the earth’s atmosphere, as in
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pertaining to the spiritual or invisible heaven; heavenly; divine.
celestial bliss.
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of or relating to celestial navigation.
a celestial fix.
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Celestial, of or relating to the former Chinese Empire or the Chinese people.
noun
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an inhabitant of heaven.
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Celestial, a citizen of the Celestial Empire.
adjective
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heavenly; divine; spiritual
celestial peace
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of or relating to the sky
celestial bodies
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Relating to the sky or the heavens. Stars and planets are celestial bodies.
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Relating to the celestial sphere or to any of the coordinate systems by which the position of an object, such as a star or planet, is represented on it.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of celestial
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin cēlestiālis, equivalent to Latin caelesti(s) “heavenly” ( cael(um “heaven, sky” + -estis adjective suffix) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
What is the difference between a celestial being and a celestial body? The first is something living such as an alien or an angel, whereas the latter is an inanimate object such as a star or a planet. Both, however, are from the sky. The word celestial is primarily used to describe things that have to do with the heavens such as angels, spirits, stars and planets. It does not come from words meaning God or soul though, but from the Latin word for "sky," caelestis, which also gave rise to the word ceiling. So really, all you have to do is look up and you'll remember what celestial means — whether you're inside or outside.
Vocabulary lists containing celestial
Celestial Words To Mark The Winter Solstice
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Oh, My Stars! The Language of Outer Space
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Eclipse Vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The majestic Midtown railway nexus Grand Central Terminal has been on sightseers’ lists since it opened in 1913, with the cavernous interior celestial ceiling, a verdant astrological mural, exerting particular fascination.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
By presenting Satan's fall as a violent physical event instead of a purely spiritual allegory or optical illusion, Dante may have helped move Western thought toward the idea that celestial objects can directly reshape Earth.
From Science Daily • May 11, 2026
Asked what they would miss about celestial life, Koch said "camaraderie."
From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026
So far, Artemis II has flown human beings farther than anyone has ever traveled, doing a single lap around the moon before heading home and producing some stunning photos of celestial spheres in the process.
From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026
The celestial sphere shivered too, rocking dizzily on his muscular shoulders.
From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
