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intergalactic

American  
[in-ter-guh-lak-tik] / ˌɪn tər gəˈlæk tɪk /

adjective

  1. of, existing, or occurring in the space between galaxies.

    The science-fiction movie was about an intergalactic war.


intergalactic British  
/ ˌɪntəɡəˈlæktɪk /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or existing between two or more galaxies

    the dark clouds of intergalactic space

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of intergalactic

First recorded in 1925–30; inter- + galactic

Explanation

The adjective intergalactic describes something that's in between galaxies. An intergalactic star, for example, is not inside a galaxy, but between them — it's also called a "rogue star." You can call anything that relates to galaxies, or exists between them, intergalactic. If we were able to travel at the speed of light, intergalactic travel — travel from one galaxy to another — might be possible. The prefix inter- means "between" or "among," and it's followed by galactic, "pertaining to our galaxy," from the Late Latin root galaxias, "the Milky Way."

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Vocabulary lists containing intergalactic

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.

See Examples For:

Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler star in the latest DC Studios series on HBO, playing a pair of intergalactic detectives who work for the Green Lantern Corps.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 17, 2026

Max Barrett was one of those people who voted for self-styled intergalactic space warrior Count Binface.

From BBC Aug. 14, 2026

Not if you’re a newbie trying to join an intergalactic police force devoted to stopping interplanetary outrages.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 14, 2026

Even when intergalactic forces take pains to make the Lantern Corps’ selection process fair, Earth’s unspoken dictates about worthiness make that impossible.

From Salon Aug. 14, 2026

A direct impact on one galaxy by another can send the constituent stars pouring and careening through intergalactic space, a galaxy wasted.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

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