I. kōˈpərnə̇kən, kəˈ-, -pə̄n- adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Nicolaus Copernic us (Kopernik) died 1543 Pol. astronomer + English -an
1. : of, relating to, or being the astronomic system of Copernicus in which the sun is taken as the center of the planets
2. : of radical or major importance or degree
a copernican revolution in psychologic theory
• co·per·ni·can·ism -kəˌnizəm noun -s usually capitalized
II. noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
: a believer in the Copernican system of astronomy usually as opposed to the Ptolemaic