sunspot
noun
sun·spot
ˈsən-ˌspät 
: any of the dark spots that appear at times on the sun's surface and are usually visible only through a telescope
Examples of sunspot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Coronal holes are not to be confused with sunspots; while both appear as dark patches on the sun, sunspots occur in the lowest layer of the solar atmosphere, when magnetic field lines instead grow strong and get twisted, rather than opening up into space.
—
Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
The sun's magnetic field is currently in its solar maximum, meaning an uptick in northern lights activity is expected over the next several months, as more sunspots with the intense magnetic activity are predicted to occur.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 24 Jan. 2025
Regions of intense magnetic activity known as sunspots are proliferating on the solar surface and are capable of releasing intense bursts of radiation resulting in solar flares that can hurtle toward Earth at the speed of light, according to NOAA.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
As sunspots emerge on the sun's surface close to its equator, their orientations will match the old magnetic field, while sunspots forming closer to the poles will have a magnetic field matching the incoming magnetic orientation, French said.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sunspot 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
The sun's magnetic field is currently in its solar maximum, meaning an uptick in northern lights activity is expected over the next several months, as more sunspots with the intense magnetic activity are predicted to occur.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 24 Jan. 2025
Regions of intense magnetic activity known as sunspots are proliferating on the solar surface and are capable of releasing intense bursts of radiation resulting in solar flares that can hurtle toward Earth at the speed of light, according to NOAA.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
As sunspots emerge on the sun's surface close to its equator, their orientations will match the old magnetic field, while sunspots forming closer to the poles will have a magnetic field matching the incoming magnetic orientation, French said.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sunspot
Articles Related to sunspot
Dictionary Entries Near sunspot
Cite this Entry
“Sunspot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sunspot. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sunspot
noun
sun·spot
-ˌspät
: one of the dark spots that appear from time to time on the sun's surface and are usually visible only through a telescope
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share