1a. The point in the orbit of the moon or of an artificial satellite most distant from the center of the earth. b. The point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited. 2. The farthest or highest point; the apex: The golden age of American sail, which began with the fast clipper ships in 1848, reached its apogee in the Gold Rush years (Los Angeles Times).
ETYMOLOGY:
French apogée, from New Latin apogaeum, from Greek apogaion, from neuter of apogaios, far from the earth : apo-, apo- + gaia, earth.