What is the term for a galaxy like the Milky Way?

A galaxy like the Milky Way is classified as a spiral galaxy. This type of galaxy features a flat, rotating disk containing stars, gas, and dust, along with a central concentration of stars known as the bulge. The Milky Way possesses well-defined spiral arms where new stars are actively forming, giving it that characteristic spiral structure.

Spiral galaxies, such as the Milky Way, are often distinguished by their specific structural features, including their disk and bulge. This classification contrasts with elliptical galaxies, which have a more rounded shape and lack the defined structure of spiral arms, and with pulsars and quasars, which are forms of stellar remnants and distant astronomical objects, respectively, rather than galaxy types. Therefore, the term 'spiral galaxy' accurately captures the structural characteristics of the Milky Way.