stratosphere

stratosphere — noun

1. One of the bands of gas that surround a planet, positioned above the lowest atmo

1.nounB2
Definition

One of the bands of gas that surround a planet, positioned above the lowest atmospheric layer, where the air grows warmer at higher altitudes.

Example

Weather balloons rise through the troposphere and into the stratosphere to collect scientific data.

collocation: rise through / into the stratosphere

Commercial aircraft often fly in the lower part of the stratosphere to avoid stormy weather below.

collocation: fly in the stratosphere

Common collocations
  • the stratosphere
  • into the stratosphere
  • through the stratosphere
  • the lower stratosphere
  • the upper stratosphere
Synonyms
  • upper atmosphere

    broader term that includes the stratosphere and layers above it

  • ozone layer

    a part of the stratosphere, not a synonym for the whole layer

Antonyms
  • troposphere

    the lowest atmospheric layer, where weather occurs

Grammar Patterns

the + stratosphere

Usage Note

Frequently preceded by 'the'. This sense can refer to any planet's atmosphere, not only Earth's. Distinguish from sense 2 which is specific to Earth's atmosphere and its exact altitude range.

Common Mistakes

The ozone layer is in the troposphere.
The ozone layer is in the stratosphere.
The ozone layer sits within the stratosphere, not the troposphere (the weather layer below).
The stratosphere contains all the clouds we see.
The troposphere contains all the clouds we see.
Almost all clouds form in the troposphere, not the stratosphere.

2. The part of Earth's atmosphere located between about fifteen and fifty kilometre

2.nounB2
Definition

The part of Earth's atmosphere located between about fifteen and fifty kilometres above the ground, where the air is dry and stable, few clouds form, and the temperature rises with height instead of falling.

Example

The ozone layer sits within Earth's stratosphere and absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.

collocation: within Earth's stratosphere

Unlike the troposphere below it, the stratosphere is extremely dry and almost completely free of clouds.

contrastive structure: unlike X, Y is...

Common collocations
  • Earth's stratosphere
  • within the stratosphere
  • the upper stratosphere
  • the lower stratosphere
  • stratospheric ozone
Synonyms
  • ozone layer

    refers specifically to the ozone-rich zone within the stratosphere, not the full layer

Antonyms
  • troposphere

    the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, containing weather and clouds

Grammar Patterns

the + stratosphere

within + the + stratosphere

Usage Note

This sense is more scientifically precise than sense 1. It refers specifically to Earth's atmosphere between the tropopause (≈15 km) and the stratopause (≈50 km). The ozone layer is contained within this zone. Distinguish from sense 1, which is a broader reference to any planet's stratospheric layer.

Common Mistakes

The stratosphere is full of clouds and rain.
The stratosphere is dry and cloud-free.
Weather systems and clouds are almost entirely in the troposphere.
Temperatures drop as you go higher in the stratosphere.
Temperatures rise as you go higher in the stratosphere.
Temperature inversion is the key feature of the stratosphere.

3. Used informally when a price, cost, temperature, or quantity climbs to a point f

3.nounB2
Definition

Used informally when a price, cost, temperature, or quantity climbs to a point far above what people consider normal or reasonable.

Example

House prices in Amsterdam soared into the stratosphere after the new tech hub opened.

figurative: soared into the stratosphere

Kofi watched in disbelief as fuel prices hit the stratosphere during the month-long crisis.

Common collocations
  • soar into the stratosphere
  • hit the stratosphere
  • reach the stratosphere
  • go into the stratosphere
  • prices in the stratosphere
Synonyms
  • the sky

    equally informal; 'prices sky-high'

  • the roof

    informal; 'costs went through the roof'

  • astronomical

    adjective meaning extremely high; more formal

Antonyms
  • rock bottom

    the lowest possible level, opposite of extremely high

  • the floor

    informal; 'prices hit the floor'

Grammar Patterns

the + stratosphere

into + the + stratosphere

reach + the + stratosphere

soar into + the + stratosphere

hit + the + stratosphere

Usage Note

Figurative and informal. Common in news and everyday speech about surging prices, costs, or temperatures. Frequently pairs with verbs like 'soar into', 'hit', 'reach', 'go into', 'climb into'. The literal scientific meaning (senses 1-2) is always the primary meaning; this figurative extension is marked by informal register.

Common Mistakes

Her kindness reached the stratosphere.
The price of butter reached the stratosphere.
This figurative sense is used for measurable quantities (prices, costs, temperatures), not abstract qualities like kindness.

4. The highest level of achievement in a career, sport, art, or business — the poin

4.nounC1
Definition

The highest level of achievement in a career, sport, art, or business — the point at which someone has attained outstanding success and widespread recognition.

Example

After her third Olympic gold medal, swimmer Lin's career was in the stratosphere.

figurative: career in the stratosphere

Minho's small software company reached the stratosphere when a global corporation bought it for two billion dollars.

Common collocations
  • career in the stratosphere
  • fame reached the stratosphere
  • enter the stratosphere
  • hit the stratosphere
Synonyms
  • the top

    general term for highest position; less colourful

  • the pinnacle

    slightly more formal; the highest point of achievement

  • the summit

    similar to pinnacle; suggests reaching the peak after effort

Antonyms
  • obscurity

    state of being unknown; the opposite of fame and recognition

  • mediocrity

    average or ordinary achievement

Grammar Patterns

the + stratosphere

into + the + stratosphere

in + the + stratosphere

reach + the + stratosphere

Usage Note

Figurative and informal. Similar to sense 3 but specifically about a person's career, reputation, or level of success rather than prices or quantities. Often appears in possessive constructions ('her career was in the stratosphere') or with verbs of entering and reaching. Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 describes things (prices, costs, temperatures) reaching an extreme high; sense 4 describes people or their careers reaching a peak of success.

Common Mistakes

The price of milk went into the stratosphere after he became famous.
His fame went into the stratosphere after the hit movie.
Sense 4 is about success and achievement, not prices. Use sense 3 for prices.

Word family

  • stratospheric
    adjectiveC1
  • stratify
    verbC1
  • stratification
    nounC1
  • troposphere
    nounB2
  • mesosphere
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

All four expressions describe something reaching an extremely high level, but they differ in tone and collocation. 'The sky' is the most general and appears in both literal and figurative contexts ('prices sky-high', 'skyrocketing costs'). 'The roof' is informal and commonly follows 'through' ('went through the roof'); it often carries a tone of surprise or frustration. 'Astronomical' is an adjective that sounds more formal and is common in written journalism ('astronomical fees', 'astronomical temperatures'). 'The stratosphere' is the most vivid of the group, borrowed from science and used with verbs like 'soar into', 'hit', or 'reach'. For example: 'Rent in the city centre has hit the stratosphere' feels more dramatic than 'Rent is astronomical' and more specific than 'Rent is sky-high.' Choose 'stratosphere' when you want the strongest image; use 'astronomical' for formal writing; and use 'the roof' in casual conversation.

the skythe roofastronomical ↗the stratosphere

Common collocations

Phrases

  • the stratosphere
  • the lower stratosphere
  • the upper stratosphere
  • Earth's stratosphere

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'stratum' meaning 'a layer or bed' and Latin 'sphaera' meaning 'sphere or ball'. The French meteorologist Léon Teisserenc de Bort coined the term in the early 1900s after discovering that the upper atmosphere is made of distinct layers. He chose 'strato-' to highlight the layered structure, in contrast to 'tropos' (turning or mixing) which names the turbulent layer below.