What does the term 'solar system' refer to specifically?

The term 'solar system' specifically refers to the collection of the Sun and all celestial bodies that orbit around it, which includes planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and other objects influenced by the Sun's gravitational pull. This definition highlights the hierarchical structure where the Sun serves as the central star and the gravitational anchor, allowing for the stable orbits of the other bodies within this system.

Understanding the solar system in this context distinguishes it from other cosmic structures, such as galaxies or star clusters. While the Milky Way galaxy encompasses billions of stars and their respective solar systems, it is a much larger and more complex entity than any single solar system. The term does not refer to any group of stars or the vast empty regions of space between them, which eliminates those options from consideration.