apoapsis

A1P3O1A1P3S1I1S1

noun

The point of a body's elliptical orbit about the system's centre of mass where the distance between the body and the centre of mass is at its maximum.

Similar
apocenterapoapsepoint of apoapsis
Opposite
periapsis
OriginEnglish apsis ← Ancient Greek ᾰ̓πο- (ăpo-) ← Proto-Hellenic *apó →
Scrabble 12
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Meanings

nounapoapsis (plural apoapsides or apoapsises or apoapses)

plural apoapsides · plural apoapsises · plural apoapses · alternative apapsis

  1. astronomyThe point of a body's elliptical orbit about the system's centre of mass where the distance between the body and the centre of mass is at its maximum.

    Synonyms: apocenter, apoapse

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe point of a body's elliptical orbit about the system's centre of mass where the distance between the body and the centre of mass is at its maximum.

Similar
apocenterapoapse
Opposite
periapsis

More synonyms by meaning

noun(astronomy) the point in an orbit farthest from the body being orbited

Similar
point of apoapsis
Opposite
periapsis
Broader
celestial point
Also see
apogeeaposelene

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ep
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂epó
  3. Proto-Hellenic*apó
  4. Ancient Greekᾰ̓πό (ăpó)
  5. Ancient Greekᾰ̓πο- (ăpo-)
  6. Englishapo-
  7. Englishapsis
  8. Englishapoapsis

From apo- + apsis.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian апоапсида
  • апоапсида (apoapsida)point of a body's elliptical orbit
Finnish apoapsis
  • apoapsispoint of a body's elliptical orbit
French apoapse, apoapside
  • apoapsepoint of a body's elliptical orbit
  • apoapsidepoint of a body's elliptical orbit
Greek απόαψη
  • απόαψη (apóapsi)point of a body's elliptical orbit
Irish apaipsis
  • apaipsispoint of a body's elliptical orbit
Polish apocentrum
  • apocentrumpoint of a body's elliptical orbit
Portuguese apoapside
  • apoapsidepoint of a body's elliptical orbit
Slovak apoapsida
  • apoapsidapoint of a body's elliptical orbit
Cite this entry
APA

apoapsis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apoapsis

MLA

“apoapsis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apoapsis. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “apoapsis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apoapsis.

Source: apoapsis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.