Meaning & use

terrestrial

adjective·Academic

Last updated

Relating to the earth or land, as opposed to sea, air, or space.

See it in a sentence

Terrestrial animals live on land, unlike aquatic species that live in water.

Scientists are searching for signs of life beyond terrestrial environments.

A note on using this word

Commonly contrasted with 'aquatic' (water) or 'extraterrestrial' (beyond Earth), depending on context.

Words with a similar meaning

earthlyland-based

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Words with an opposite meaning

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