constellation
noun
con·stel·la·tion
ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən 
1
: the configuration of stars especially at one's birth
2
: any of 88 arbitrary configurations of stars or an area of the celestial sphere covering one of these configurations
the constellation Orion
3
: an assemblage, collection, or group of usually related persons, qualities, or things
… a constellation of … relatives, friends, and hangers-on …—
Brendan Gill
Brendan Gilla constellation of symptoms
4
: pattern, arrangement
… taking advantage of the shifting constellation of power throughout the known world.—H. D. Lasswell
H. D. LasswellExamples of constellation in a Sentence
The constellation Ursa Major contains the stars of the Big Dipper.
A large constellation of relatives and friends attended the funeral.
The patient presented a constellation of symptoms.
Recent Examples on the Web
That's set to be a fabulous sight, as will its close conjunction with Regulus — the brightest star in the constellation Leo — before sunrise on Sept. 19, 2025, again in the easy-northeast pre-dawn sky.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
On May 30, the moon is in the constellation Cancer, with the Beehive cluster close to its left and Mars shining just beyond.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 May 2025
Coma Berenices has a distinction that no other constellation has.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
Thousands of years ago, Chinese astronomers studied the sky using an ancient record of constellations and their coordinates.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for constellation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
On May 30, the moon is in the constellation Cancer, with the Beehive cluster close to its left and Mars shining just beyond.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 May 2025
Coma Berenices has a distinction that no other constellation has.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
Thousands of years ago, Chinese astronomers studied the sky using an ancient record of constellations and their coordinates.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for constellation
Cite this Entry
“Constellation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constellation. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
constellation
noun
con·stel·la·tion
ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən
: any of 88 groups of stars forming patterns
Etymology
Middle English constellacioun "the position of the stars in the sky at the time of a person's birth," from early French constellation (same meaning), from Latin con-, com- "with" and stella "star"
Medical Definition
constellation
noun
con·stel·la·tion
ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən
: a set of ideas, conditions, symptoms, or traits that fall into or appear to fall into a pattern: as
a
: a group of stimulus conditions or factors affecting personality and behavior development
the way in which family constellation and handling of punishment influenced this particular boy—S. B. Sarason
S. B. Sarason
b
: a group of behavioral or personality traits
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share