terrestrial

American  

[tuh-res-tree-uhl] / təˈrɛs tri əl /

adjective

1. pertaining to, consisting of, or representing the earth as distinct from other planets.

   Synonyms:

   terrene

   Antonyms:

   celestial

2. of or relating to land as distinct from water.

3. Botany.

   1. growing on land; not aquatic.

   2. growing in the ground; not epiphytic or aerial.

4. Zoology. living on or in the ground; not aquatic, arboreal, or aerial.

5. of or relating to the earth or this world; worldly; mundane.

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noun

1. an inhabitant of the earth, especially a human being.

terrestrial British  

/ təˈrɛstrɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the earth

2. of or belonging to the land as opposed to the sea or air

3. (of animals and plants) living or growing on the land

4. earthly, worldly, or mundane

5. (of television signals) sent over the earth's surface from a transmitter on land, rather than by satellite

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noun

1. an inhabitant of the earth

terrestrial Scientific  

/ tə-rĕs′trē-əl /

1. Relating to Earth or its inhabitants.

2. Relating to, living on, or growing on land.

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Synonym Usage

See earthly.

Other Word Forms

• terrestrialness
  noun
• nonterrestrial
  adjective
• preterrestrial
  adjective
• superterrestrial
  adjective
• underterrestrial
  adjective
• unterrestrial
  adjective
• terrestrially
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of terrestrial

First recorded in 1450–1550; late Middle English from Latin terrestri(s) “pertaining to earth” (derivative of terra “earth”) + -al ¹

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Explanation

Not straying far from its Latin root terra, meaning "earth," terrestrial means "of the earth." If it's terrestrial, you'll find it on earth. If it's extraterrestrial, you'll find it emerging from a UFO. The adjective terrestrial can also be used to describe something that lives on land (as opposed to living in water, for example). "On their trip to the rain forest, the scientists were charged with cataloging terrestrial animals. Another group was going to be in charge of cataloging the aquatic animals." The adjective can also be used to describe something that is mundane in character. The teenager cried, "My life is boring and full of terrestrial events like going to band practice and to class!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

terrestrial

"Communication is so important, and terrestrial communication platforms, whether it's 5G or fibre, can be attacked on the ground," Berneke said.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

One company makes electric cars that are inherently terrestrial, ferrying millions of drivers on roads around the world.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

“We will be building out our terrestrial networks,” CEO Elon Musk says during a Tuesday earnings call, “so there’s broad-based connectivity anywhere that SpaceX and Starlink are allowed to operate.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

The company offers satellite-based Starlink internet service currently, but SpaceX has noted that it wants to pair that with terrestrial or land-based technologies.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

There is no need to animadvert to the deeds of that day, which shall resound, for weal or woe, as long as this terrestrial globe has habitation.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

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