solar energy
Americannoun
noun
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The radiant energy emitted by the Sun.
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Energy derived from the Sun's radiation. Passive solar energy can be exploited through architectural design, as by positioning windows to allow sunlight to enter and help heat a space. Active solar energy involves the conversion of sunlight to electrical energy, especially in solar (photovoltaic) cells.
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See also solar cell
Discover More
The term solar energy often refers to processes that use this energy to generate heat or electricity for human use. (See solar cells.)
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.
According to the lawsuit, Smith and Mosley convinced the tribal agency, Kituwah LLC, to help their company acquire a proposed solar energy farm in Texas.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The government hopes the plug-in panels will offer people a more affordable way into solar energy compared to roof installation, although savings will be lower because they generate less power.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Nearly 50% of Nuveen Green Capital’s deployment activity is focused on new construction, with the rest being allocated to building retrofits for things like solar energy upgrades.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Success would show how a breakthrough originating in fundamental quantum physics could lead directly to improvements in next-generation solar energy technology.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026
Rotating slowly in eternal sunshine, Libra would have abundant solar energy, so much, in fact, that some could be converted into microwaves and beamed back to earth.
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
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.
