Definition of stratospheric in US English:

adjective

• 1Relating to the layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 32 miles (50 km) above the earth's surface.

  ‘the stratospheric ozone layer’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Post made several successful stratospheric flights in his plane, the Winnie Mae.’
  • ‘During the test flight, the company successfully tested digital high-definition television broadcasts from its stratospheric transmitter.’
  • ‘The differences in layout of the continents in the two hemispheres affects the dynamics of stratospheric circulation.’
  • ‘The stratospheric changes are most pronounced near the poles and between 20 and 40 degrees of latitude.’
  • ‘By trapping more heat near Earth's surface, these gases cause the stratosphere to become cooler and produce more stratospheric clouds.’

  1. 1.1informal Extremely high.
     ‘stratospheric salaries and bonuses’

     ‘stratospheric prices’

     More example sentences

     • ‘On this album, there seems to be little sign of any stratospheric career change in sight.’
     • ‘He has been plagued by the stratospheric expectations that his own 2008 campaign created.’
     • ‘The valuations of virtually all tech companies in the 1990s rose to stratospheric heights, making dividends unnecessary.’
     • ‘Some of 2003's increased costs were stratospheric.’
     • ‘They're still showing growth characteristics with decent, if not stratospheric, forecasts for this year and next.’