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

Dubois' confidence now will take him into another stratosphere and makes him a very tough man to beat.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

The strong updrafts inside these clouds can disturb the surrounding atmosphere, generating waves that travel upward into the stratosphere and mesosphere.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

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

So far this month, Ohtani has been unable to catch up to fastballs in the middle of the strike zone, pitches he’d typically send into the stratosphere.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

The tercel ignores them and climbs, it seems to me, into the very stratosphere.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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Related Words

• atmosphere
• breeze
• wind

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