terrestrial

[tuh-res-tree-uhl]

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.

noun

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

terrestrial

/ 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

noun

1. an inhabitant of the earth

terrestrial

1. Relating to Earth or its inhabitants.

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrestrial¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrestrial¹

C15: from Latin terrestris, from terra earth

Synonym Study

See earthly.

Example Sentences

The statement continued: "To ensure the flight's safety, air control services immediately offered an alternative landing method using terrestrial navigation tools."

From BBC

The decline should be seen against a backdrop in which terrestrial TV viewing figures are falling year on year.

From BBC

But the big TV advertising bucks that kept so many of them afloat have vanished, having gone down with the terrestrial TV ship.

From BBC

He said peatlands are our most significant, most impactful, terrestrial carbon sinks.

From BBC

Walliams, who also hosts a podcast with his former Little Britain co-star Matt Lucas, has not appeared on terrestrial television since 2022.

From BBC