firmament

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "firmament" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to the sky, especially when seen as an arch or dome over the earth. For example, "The stars seemed to sparkle in the firmament."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet at Royal Bank of Scotland – one of the less stable pieces in the UK's banking firmament – the Treasury will use its 81% shareholding to impose the bonus cap in its strongest form.

The Guardian - Business

And then there are weeks when the star-filled firmament shines so dazzlingly bright, it can only be safely looked at through smoked glass.

The Guardian - Film

There's not a directional design touch in sight – but it's classy and safe and comes during a week when Alamuddin has already confirmed her position in the fashion firmament.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Others hoped that elections following a grand coalition would produce a realignment of parties, a new political firmament in which reformists shone brightly.A miserable showing by the DPJ in upper-house elections this summer could, at the worst, bring about another horribly "twisted" Diet, in which the opposition controls the upper chamber and the DPJ the lower.

The Economist

Dr Massey and his colleagues were able to map the matter (both dark and visible) in the bit of the firmament covered by the Cosmic Evolution Survey by looking for characteristic distortions in the shape of distant galaxies that only Hubble, which is beyond the image-blurring effects of the atmosphere, can see.

The Economist

German liberalism failed in 1848, failed again under the Weimar Republic, and became part of the firmament only in West Germany in 1949.In this section The birth of the nation?

The Economist

They are awakening to a world in which their planet, though still the biggest in the Canadian firmament, is being eclipsed.

The Economist

The state legislature is now investigating the whole affair, to Ms Palin's embarrassment.Still, come Monday and the start of the Republican convention in Minneapolis-St Paul, there will be a new star in the Republican firmament.

The Economist

New SIM cards will cost just $1.50, compared with $200 or more in the past.Telenor and Ooredoo are lesser-known names in the telecoms firmament, but both have wide experience in poor countries and in Asia.

The Economist

If the extra day were taken into account, growth would have been closer to 8%, reckons Tao Wang of UBS, a bank.The slowdown may also owe something to the new stars in China's political firmament.

The Economist

It spent over 1,000 hours of the instrument's valuable observing time examining a section of the firmament about nine times the size of a full moon.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "firmament" when aiming for a formal, literary, or slightly archaic tone, especially when referring to the sky or heavens. It adds a sense of grandeur or expansiveness.

Common error

Avoid using "firmament" in casual or informal writing. Its formal and somewhat antiquated nature can sound unnatural or pretentious in everyday conversation or contemporary writing where simpler terms like "sky" or "heavens" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

Firmament primarily functions as a noun, denoting the sky or heavens, particularly as an arch or dome. As indicated by Ludwig, the word is correct and it appears in various contexts, ranging from literal descriptions of the sky to metaphorical references to spheres of influence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "firmament" is a grammatically sound noun primarily denoting the sky or heavens, often with a formal or literary tone. While confirmed as correct and usable by Ludwig, it's less common in casual conversation but frequently appears in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science contexts. Metaphorically, it represents a broad domain or sphere of influence. When aiming for formality and a sense of grandeur, "firmament" is an appropriate choice; however, simpler terms like "sky" or "heavens" are preferable in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the heavens

Replaces "firmament" with a more common and direct synonym for the sky or celestial sphere.

the sky

Simplifies "firmament" to its most basic and widely understood equivalent.

the celestial sphere

Offers a more technical and astronomical alternative to "firmament".

the vault of heaven

Presents a more poetic and descriptive substitute for "firmament".

the realm of the stars

Focuses on the starry aspect of the firmament, implying a broader cosmic scope.

the cosmic order

Shifts the emphasis from the physical sky to the organized structure of the universe, a metaphorical extension of the firmament.

the world of fashion

Uses the "firmament" metaphor to refer to the entirety of the fashion industry.

the political landscape

Employs the "firmament" metaphor to describe the broad scope of the political arena.

the sphere of influence

Replaces "firmament" with a phrase that describes the range or extent of something's impact or power.

the domain of expertise

Uses the "firmament" metaphor to denote the area of knowledge or skill in which someone is proficient.

FAQs

How to use "firmament" in a sentence?

You can use "firmament" to describe the sky or heavens, such as, "The stars twinkled brilliantly in the night "firmament"." It can also metaphorically represent a field or sphere of activity.

What can I say instead of "firmament" when referring to the sky?

Alternatives include the "heavens", the "sky", or the "celestial sphere", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Can "firmament" be used in contexts other than describing the sky?

Yes, "firmament" can be used metaphorically to describe a field or sphere of interest or activity, such as "a rising star in the political "firmament"".

Is "firmament" a common word in modern English?

While grammatically correct, "firmament" is not as commonly used as its synonyms like "sky" or "heavens". It is more often found in literary or formal contexts. Ludwig confirms the word is correct and provides many examples of its use.