sputnik

[ spoot-nik, spuht-; Russian spoot-nyik ]

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) any of a series of Soviet earth-orbiting satellites:

   Sputnik I was the world's first space satellite.

Sputnik

/ ˈspʌt-; ˈspʊtnɪk /

noun

1. any of a series of unmanned Soviet satellites, Sputnik 1 (launched in 1957) being the first man-made satellite to orbit the earth

Word History and Origins

Origin of sputnik¹

1957; < Russian spútnik satellite, traveling companion, equivalent to s- together, with + put’ way, route + -nik agent suffix ( -nik )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sputnik¹

C20: from Russian, literally: fellow traveller, from s- with + put path + -nik suffix indicating agent

Example Sentences

In May, 2021, Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor accused Google of restricting YouTube access to Russian media outlets, including RT and Sputnik, and supporting "illegal protest activity".

From BBC

Its parent company, Rossiya Segodnya, is responsible for state news agency RIA Novosti and news branks like Sputnik, CNN reported.

From Salon

The Russian embassy in Washington, broadcaster RT, formerly Russia Today, and the owner of the Sputnik news agency, Rossiya Segodnya, did not immediately respond to BBC requests for comment.

From BBC

Inspired by the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957, while he was a college student, Dr. Stone went on to oversee the Voyager missions 20 years later for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which the California Institute of Technology manages for NASA.

From New York Times

Since the war started in February 2022, the EU had already suspended Russia Today and Sputnik, among several other outlets.

From Seattle Times