Magellan

American  

[muh-jel-uhn] / məˈdʒɛl ən /

noun

1. Ferdinand, c1480–1521, Portuguese navigator: discoverer of the Strait of Magellan 1520 and the Philippines 1521.

2. Strait of Magellan, Also Straits of Magellan a strait near the southern tip of South America between the mainland of Chile and Tierra del Fuego and other islands, connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. 360 miles (580 kilometers) long.

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Magellan ¹ British  

/ məˈɡɛlən /

noun

1. a strait between the mainland of S South America and Tierra del Fuego, linking the S Pacific with the S Atlantic. Length: 600 km (370 miles). Width: up to 32 km (20 miles)

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Magellan ² British  

/ məˈɡɛlən /

noun

1. Ferdinand. Portuguese name Fernão de Magalhães. ?1480–1521, Portuguese navigator in the service of Spain. He commanded an expedition of five ships that set out to sail to the East Indies via the West. He discovered the Strait of Magellan (1520), crossed the Pacific, and reached the Philippines (1521), where he was killed by natives. One of his ships reached Spain (1522) and was therefore the first to circumnavigate the world

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Magellanic
  adjective

Example Sentences

The company has been on a major acquisition spree over the past several years, acquiring smaller players such as Magellan, Medallion, and EnLink.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

“Will offshore wind exist in California and the United States?” asked Jim Lanard, co-founder and chief executive of developer Magellan Wind.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

Mr. Bernal is a perfect choice for Magellan, soulful enough for sympathy but gifted enough to play a quietly possessed fanatic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

“You probably don’t need supersophistication if you have $500,000 or less,” said Joe Lukacs, an adviser coach and founder of Magellan Network.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

After Eratosthenes, some may have tried, but not until the time of Magellan did anyone succeed in circumnavigating the Earth.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan