space race: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, historical, journalistic. Used in academic, political, and popular science contexts.
Quick answer
What does “space race” mean?
The intense competition between nations, primarily the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, to achieve superior spaceflight capability.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The intense competition between nations, primarily the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, to achieve superior spaceflight capability.
Any competitive rivalry involving rapid technological advancement in space exploration or analogous fields. Can metaphorically describe fierce competition in other high-tech sectors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The historical referent is identical. Slight preference in British English for using it more broadly for any competitive technological push (e.g., 'the commercial space race').
Connotations
In both varieties, carries connotations of Cold War politics, propaganda, and scientific rivalry. In American contexts, often specifically recalls the Apollo moon landings as the culmination. In British contexts, may also reference the role of European collaboration (e.g., ESA) in modern contexts.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the centrality of NASA in the historical narrative. Commonly appears in history textbooks, documentaries, and political analogies in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “space race” in a Sentence
[Subject] ignited a space race with [Country/Entity].The space race between [Entity A] and [Entity B] intensified.[Country] is engaged in a space race for [Goal].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “space race” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The space race had profound effects on British satellite technology.
- Many argue that a new space race is brewing in Asia.
American English
- The space race was a defining element of Cold War politics.
- Private companies are now leading a commercial space race.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe intense competition between companies (e.g., SpaceX, Blue Origin) to dominate the commercial space sector.
Academic
Used to analyse Cold War history, the relationship between science and state power, and the drivers of technological innovation.
Everyday
Used when discussing history, current events about space exploration, or metaphorically for any fast-paced competitive situation.
Technical
Less common in pure engineering contexts; more used in policy, history, and media discussions of space programs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “space race”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “space race”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “space race”
- Using 'space race' to describe peaceful, cooperative missions (e.g., 'The ISS is a result of the space race' - incorrect, it's a result of post-Cold War cooperation).
- Capitalising it as a proper noun ('the Space Race') only when referring specifically to the 1957-1975 event.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no official end date, but many historians point to the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, a joint US-Soviet mission, as a symbolic conclusion to the period of intense rivalry.
No. While its primary reference is historical, it is commonly used today to describe contemporary competitions in space exploration, such as those involving national agencies (e.g., China, India) or private companies.
The primary goals were achieving significant 'firsts' (first satellite, first human in space, first moon landing) to demonstrate technological and ideological superiority, thereby gaining geopolitical prestige and military advantage.
An 'arms race' focuses specifically on the competitive accumulation of military weapons and technology. The 'space race' involved broader technological and exploratory competition, though it had significant military implications (e.g., missile technology). The space race was a subset of Cold War competition, often fueled by the same dynamics as the arms race.
The intense competition between nations, primarily the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, to achieve superior spaceflight capability.
Space race is usually formal, historical, journalistic. used in academic, political, and popular science contexts. in register.
Space race: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspeɪs ˌreɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspeɪs ˌreɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a race to the stars”
- “the final frontier contest”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine two runners (the USA and USSR) racing up a launch pad instead of a track, trying to reach the moon first.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPLORATION IS A RACE; TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT IS A COMPETITION; NATIONAL PRESTIGE IS WINNING.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST accurate characterization of the historical 'space race'?