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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Related Words

See earthly.

Other Word Forms

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

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

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

Some of the IPO money will be for AI data centers in space, which Musk believes will be cost-competitive with terrestrial data centers in a few years.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

If its efforts to collect continuous energy and beam it back to receivers on Earth are successful, it could provide a clean energy solution that avoids some of the limitations of terrestrial solar panels.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

Future breakthroughs in studying ancient terrestrial life may not come from traditional fossil-bearing rocks like shale or sandstone, but from iron-rich deposits hidden beneath the surface.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2026

Globalstar also has terrestrial spectrum that could boost connectivity for warehouse automation or drones, Nowak said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Halley was interested in terrestrial magnetism and had an idea that variations in magnetism from place to place around the globe might, if they were first mapped accurately, be used as a means of navigation.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin