geosynchronous

G2E1O1S1Y4N1C3H4R1O1N1O1U1S1

adjective

Refers to the orbit of a satellite whose rate of revolution is matched to the rotation period of the Earth. A special case is the geostationary orbit, which is circular and equatorial, so that the satellite appears to be fixed over a particular point on Earth's surface.

Similar
fixed
OriginEnglish synchronous ← Ancient Greek γεω- (geō-) ← Proto-Hellenic *gaya →
UncommonScrabble 23
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Meanings

adjectivegeosynchronous (not comparable)
  1. not comparableRefers to the orbit of a satellite whose rate of revolution is matched to the rotation period of the Earth. A special case is the geostationary orbit, which is circular and equatorial, so that the satellite appears to be fixed over a particular point on Earth's surface.
    1 more example

    Hiro looks up, focuses his gaze on Earth, zooms in for a look. As he gets closer, the imagery he’s looking at shifts from the long-range pictures coming in from the geosynchronous satellites to the good stuff being spewed into the CIC computer from a whole fleet of low-flying spy birds. The view he’s looking at is a mosaic of images shot no more than a few hours ago.

    1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 250

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveof or having an orbit with a fixed period of 24 hours (although the position in the orbit may not be fixed with respect to the earth)

Similar
fixed
Also see
fixed

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Hellenic*gaya
  2. Ancient Greekγαῖᾰ (gaîă)clip.
  3. Ancient Greekγῆ (gê)
  4. Ancient Greekγεω- (geō-)
  5. Englishgeo-
  6. Englishsynchronous
  7. Englishgeosynchronous

From geo- + synchronous.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish geosynkroninen
  • geosynkroninenorbit whose rate of revolution is matched with Earth
French géosynchrone
  • géosynchroneorbit whose rate of revolution is matched with Earth
Italian geosincrono
  • geosincronoorbit whose rate of revolution is matched with Earth
Russian геосинхро́нный
  • геосинхро́нный (geosinxrónnyj)orbit whose rate of revolution is matched with Earth
Turkish jeosenkron
  • jeosenkronorbit whose rate of revolution is matched with Earth
Cite this entry
APA

geosynchronous. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geosynchronous

MLA

“geosynchronous.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geosynchronous. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “geosynchronous,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/geosynchronous.

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