Phrase guide

rocket science

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The science or study of rockets and their design.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Qualifier: literal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Anything overly complex, detailed, or confusing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: excessive, idiomatic, uncountable

Examples

  • It's not rocket science. Just screw in the bulb and flip the switch.
  • It's not rocket science. You just need to screw this to that!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: brain surgery, rocket surgery

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: vuurpylwetenskap — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Chinese Mandarin: 高深的事 (gāoshēn de shì) — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Czech: žádná věda — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Danish: raketvidenskab — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Dutch: hogere wiskunde — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Finnish: rakettitiede — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • German: Raketenwissenschaft — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • German: Hexenwerk — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Hungarian: atomfizika — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Hungarian: agysebészet — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Indonesian: susah parah — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Polish: czarna magia — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Portuguese: bicho de sete cabeças — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Spanish: física cuántica — idiomatic: anything overly complex
  • Swedish: raketforskning — idiomatic: anything overly complex