spherical

American  

[sfer-i-kuhl, sfeer-] / ˈsfɛr ɪ kəl, ˈsfɪər- /

Often spheric

adjective

1. having the form of a sphere; globular.

   Synonyms:

   rounded

2. formed in or on a sphere, as a figure.

3. of or relating to a sphere or spheres.

4. pertaining to the heavenly bodies, or to their supposed revolving spheres or shells.

5. pertaining to the heavenly bodies regarded astrologically as exerting influence on humankind and events.

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spherical British  

/ ˈsfɛrɪkəl /

adjective

1. shaped like a sphere

2. of or relating to a sphere

   spherical geometry

3. geometry formed on the surface of or inside a sphere

   a spherical triangle

4. 1. of or relating to heavenly bodies

   2. of or relating to the spheres of the Ptolemaic or the Copernican system

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Other Word Forms

• nonspheric adjective
• nonspherical adjective
• nonsphericality noun
• nonspherically adverb
• quasi-spherical adjective
• quasi-spherically adverb
• sphericality noun
• spherically adverb
• sphericalness noun
• subspheric adjective
• subspherical adjective
• unspherical adjective

Etymology

Origin of spherical

1515–25; < Late Latin sphēric ( us ) ( see spherics ¹) + -al ¹

Explanation

A ball is spherical; it's shaped like a sphere — a three-dimensional version of the two-dimensional circle. The ball image is a good one since the word sphere comes from very similar-sounding Greek and Latin words, both of which mean "ball." The word sphere, however, has much broader usage: we use it in to discussing astronomy, our earth, even our social rank (as in "one's sphere of influence"). Spherical, by contrast, has a much more limited use. It basically is a description of shape: if it's spherical, it simply looks like a ball.

Example Sentences

This allowed them to determine the lifetimes of the first excited nuclear states and estimate how much the nuclei were distorted from a spherical shape.

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2026

The goal: hit all seven players on the opposing team using perfectly spherical snowballs made with a special machine, or capture their flag.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

It is impossible to draw a flat, rectangular map of the spherical Earth without distortions.

From Slate • Jan. 21, 2026

That is partly the result of viewing the spherical Earth on a flat map…

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Spilled tea—or any other liquid— forms throbbing spherical globs in the air: the surface tension of the liquid overwhelms gravity.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

• rounded