terraforming

British  

/ ˈtɛrəˌfɔːmɪŋ /

noun

1. planetary engineering designed to enhance the capacity of an extraterrestrial planetary environment to sustain life

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Etymology

Origin of terraforming

C20: from Latin terra earth + forming

Explanation

Terraforming is altering a planet or moon to make it habitable for humans. If you dream of living on Mars one day, you'll be cheering on any scientific advances in terraforming. Astronomer Carl Sagan is credited with the earliest terraforming concept, a 1961 theory about how scientists might change the atmosphere of Venus so that humans could live there safely. The enormous scientific and economic challenges to terraforming any known planets make this, as of now, a hypothetical idea. The word terraforming was coined in 1942 by science fiction writer Jack Williamson, from the Latin terra, "earth," and form, "shape or mold."

Example Sentences

Over longer periods, ammonia created as a metabolic byproduct of Sporosarcina pasteurii could help enable closed loop agricultural systems and might even play a role in Mars's terraforming efforts.

From Science Daily • Jan. 6, 2026

They become enamored of certain ideas — fixing African agriculture, resurrecting von Mises and Hayek, terraforming Mars, being the president — and can spend nearly unlimited sums in the pursuit of making them a reality.

From New York Times • Apr. 7, 2022

"One idea is that CFCs could be useful in terraforming a planet to make it warmer — this idea has been suggested as a way for humans to terraform Mars," Misra said.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2022

His latest fascination: heavy machinery for terraforming the landscape around his home.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 9, 2021

They were in the midst of terraforming the Amazon when Columbus showed up and ruined everything.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann