stratosphere

American  

[strat-uh-sfeer] / ˈstræt əˌsfɪər /

noun

1. the region of the upper atmosphere extending upward from the tropopause to about 30 miles (50 km) above the earth, characterized by little vertical change in temperature.

2. (formerly) all of the earth's atmosphere lying outside the troposphere.

3. any great height or degree, as the highest point of a graded scale.

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stratosphere British  

/ ˈstrætəˌsfɪə /

noun

1. the atmospheric layer lying between the troposphere and the mesosphere, in which temperature generally increases with height

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stratosphere Scientific  

/ străt′ə-sfîr′ /

1. The region of the Earth's atmosphere extending from the tropopause to about 50 km (31 mi) above the Earth's surface. The stratosphere is characterized by the presence of ozone gas (in the ozone layer) and by temperatures which rise slightly with altitude, due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation.

2. See also exosphere mesosphere thermosphere troposphere See illustration at atmosphere

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stratosphere Cultural  

1. The region of the atmosphere of the Earth above the troposphere. The stratosphere begins at an altitude of seven to ten miles and extends to approximately thirty miles.

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Other Word Forms

• stratospheric
  adjective
• stratospherical
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of stratosphere

First recorded in 1905–10; strat(um) + -o- + sphere

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Compare meaning

How does stratosphere compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• troposphere vs. stratosphere

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Explanation

When an astronomer talks about the stratosphere, she means the second layer of Earth's atmosphere, about six miles above the surface of our planet. The atmosphere around Earth is divided into three sections — first, the troposphere, next the stratosphere, and finally the outer layer, the mesosphere. It sounds like outer space, but actually large commercial airplanes often fly at altitudes that reach the stratosphere. People also use the word stratosphere in a figurative way to mean "really high," as when a car salesman brags, "Our sales this month have skyrocketed into the stratosphere!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stratosphere

Domjan is aiming to make the first manned solar-powered flight into the stratosphere, which at Switzerland's latitude begins at around 10,000 to 12,000 metres, depending on climatic conditions.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

All these experiences provided the internal tension Mr. Brady later used to catapult himself into the NFL’s stratosphere.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

This is all going on high up in the stratosphere, far above the troposphere - where our weather actually happens.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

Some of that material reached the stratosphere, the atmospheric layer above the troposphere.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

Like Venus, our stratosphere even now has a substantial mist of tiny sulfuric acid droplets.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

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Related Words

• atmosphere
• breeze
• wind

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