deep space

adjective

Of or in the area of space beyond the gravitational influence of Earth, or outside the Solar System.

Meanings

adjectivedeep space (not comparable)

alternative deep-space · alternative deepspace

  1. not comparableOf or in the area of space beyond the gravitational influence of Earth, or outside the Solar System.

    Bradley swore a mighty deep-space oath and braced himself against certain annihilation.

    1934 April, E. E. "Doc" Smith, “Triplanetary”, in Amazing Stories, volume 6, number 5, page 54
    1 more example

    Human exploration of the solar system beyond Earth's orbit will entail many risks for the crew on these deep space missions.

    2005, Lawrence W. Townsend, “Implications of the space radiation environment for human exploration in deep space”, in Radiation Protection Dosimetry, volume 115, →DOI, pages 44–50
noundeep space (uncountable)

alternative deep-space · alternative deepspace

  1. uncountableAll of space beyond the gravitational influence of Earth, or outside the Solar System, or distant from stars.

    Unlike the Apollo astronauts, who were all white men, this mission sets a number of firsts: Mr. Glover of NASA will be the first Black man to venture into deep space and Ms. Koch of NASA will be the first woman to do so.

    2026 April 1, Kenneth Chang, “Artemis II Completes First Day of Its NASA Lunar Mission”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
    1 more example

    Part of the time he spent in the speedster dashing hither and yon. Most of it, however, he spent in the vastly more comfortable mauler; to the armored side of which his tiny vessel clung with magnetic clamps while he slept and ate, gossiped and read, exercised and played with the mauler's officers and crew, in deep-space comradery.

    1937 December, E. E. "Doc" Smith, “Galactic Patrol”, in Astounding Science-Fiction, volume 20, number 4, page 73

Origin

Coined by American science fiction author E. E. Smith in 1934 in his novel Triplanetary, first serialized in Amazing Stories. After deep sea.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French espace lointain
  • espace lointainAll of space beyond the gravitational influence of Earth
German erdferner Weltraum
  • erdferner WeltraumAll of space beyond the gravitational influence of Earth
Hindi गहन अंतरिक्ष
  • गहन अंतरिक्ष (gahan antrikṣ)All of space beyond the gravitational influence of Earth
Polish daleka przestrzeń kosmiczna
  • daleka przestrzeń kosmicznaAll of space beyond the gravitational influence of Earth
Cite this entry
APA

deep space. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deep%20space

MLA

“deep space.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deep%20space. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deep space,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deep%20space.

Source: deep space on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.