Copernican
adjective
Co·per·ni·can
kə-ˈpər-ni-kən 
kō-
1
: of or relating to Copernicus or the belief that the earth rotates daily on its axis and the planets revolve in orbits around the sun
2
: of radical or major importance or degree
effected a Copernican revolution in philosophy—
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
Copernican
noun
Examples of Copernican in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Galileo Galilei, who, in 1632, published a book supporting the Copernican theory that the Earth revolves around the sun, was accused of heresy, obliged to recant, and condemned to house arrest.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
The shifts required for sustained value creation amount to a Copernican revolution in management.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
The Copernican revolution told us Earth is not the center of the solar system.
—Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
In 1610, aided by the emergence of telescopes, Galileo Galilei famously observed Jupiter's four largest moons, thereby bolstering the Copernican heliocentric model of the solar system.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 June 2024
Catholic controversy and confrontation Galileo was ordered to appear before the Holy Office to face charges related to his advocating for the Copernican theory and his belief in the Earth's movement around the sun, a stance the Catholic Church deemed heretical.
—Maeghan Dolph, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024
From the Copernican heliocentric model of the universe and electricity to penicillin and the discovery of the structure of DNA, these developments transform our globe — and another one has been reached.
—Deborah Wince-Smith, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
The philosophical import of this could be compared to the Copernican revolution.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Aug. 2012
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Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
The shifts required for sustained value creation amount to a Copernican revolution in management.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
The Copernican revolution told us Earth is not the center of the solar system.
—Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
In 1610, aided by the emergence of telescopes, Galileo Galilei famously observed Jupiter's four largest moons, thereby bolstering the Copernican heliocentric model of the solar system.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 June 2024
Catholic controversy and confrontation Galileo was ordered to appear before the Holy Office to face charges related to his advocating for the Copernican theory and his belief in the Earth's movement around the sun, a stance the Catholic Church deemed heretical.
—Maeghan Dolph, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024
From the Copernican heliocentric model of the universe and electricity to penicillin and the discovery of the structure of DNA, these developments transform our globe — and another one has been reached.
—Deborah Wince-Smith, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
The philosophical import of this could be compared to the Copernican revolution.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Aug. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Copernican.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Copernican. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Copernican
adjective
Co·per·ni·can
kō-ˈpər-ni-kən
kə-
: of or relating to Copernicus or his theory that the earth rotates daily on its axis and the planets revolve in orbits around the sun
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