Copernican
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to Copernicus or his theories.
-
important and radically different; thoroughgoing.
a Copernican revolution in modern art.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Copernican
First recorded in 1660–70; Copernic(us) + -an
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.
As Justin Garson writes in “The Madness Pill: One Doctor’s Quest to Understand Schizophrenia,” the effect on psychiatry was like “the Copernican revolution in physics.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The authors' main argument draws inspiration from the Copernican tradition in astronomy.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 24, 2026
He imagines “a Copernican swerve in how we interact with nature,” one in which we come to imagine ourselves not as nature’s masters or stewards, but once again as part of its patterns and rhythms.
From Salon ● Dec. 9, 2023
With this staggering possibility, the Copernican principle has seemingly reached its limits.
From Scientific American ● Apr. 19, 2023
The truth is that he really was a heretic and was burned for his religious beliefs; it was just unfortunate that the Copernican model got tangled up in the whole business.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
