Synonyms

sputnik

American

[spoot-nik, spuht-, spoot-nyik] / ˈspʊt nɪk, ˈspʌt-, ˈsput nyɪk /

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter) any of a series of Soviet earth-orbiting satellites.

Sputnik I was the world's first space satellite.

Sputnik British

/ ˈspʌt-, ˈspʊtnɪk /

noun

any of a series of unmanned Soviet satellites, Sputnik 1 (launched in 1957) being the first man-made satellite to orbit the earth

"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 sputnik

1957; < Russian spútnik satellite, traveling companion, equivalent to s- together, with + put’ way, route + -nik agent suffix ( -nik )

Vocabulary lists containing sputnik

2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Vocabulary of Soviet-Era Nostalgia & Cold War Spy Words

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

American History - Middle School

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

With his trademark delivery - unhurried and calm - he informed viewers of the first sputnik in space, and delivered the communiqués of the Communist Party.

From BBC • Oct. 30, 2021

This guy's not as imposing as a sputnik, but just as many bulbs.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2021

All languages borrow words from other languages — Americans may recognize agitprop, sputnik, babushka or cosmonaut.

From Washington Post • Apr. 25, 2017

The scientists told him that the big problem wasn’t so much sputnik but rather the shortage of future American scientists.

From Slate • Jun. 4, 2012

In a secluded booth at the rear of a restaurant unfrequented by newsmen, Greta leaned forward and said: "At first, they thought it was another sputnik."

From The Delegate from Venus by Novick, Irving

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023