fjord

noun

fē-ˈȯrd How to pronounce fjord (audio) ˈfē-ˌȯrd How to pronounce fjord (audio)
ˈfyȯrd
variants or less commonly fiord
Synonyms of fjord
: a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes
the fjords of Norway

Illustration of fjord

Illustration of fjord

Synonyms of fjord

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Examples of fjord in a Sentence

a cruise through the breathtaking fjords along the coast of Norway
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This small town on the Romsdal coast is best known for its jazz festival, roses, and a remarkable mountain panorama across the fjord. — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 The team staged an official photograph at the mouth of a fjord, with three longships and the players dressed like Norse warriors; Haaland held a sword. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 30 June 2026 Patagonia is a diverse region in southern Chile and Argentina, with glaciers, mountains and fjords to the west, stretching into steppe and desert toward the east. — Brittany Peterson, Fortune, 12 June 2026 Solbakken and his team also went down that road in a novel team picture that depicted them as Viking warriors on the banks of a fjord last month, and behind that image was the collective that has been formed in the past two years. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fjord

Word History

Etymology

Norwegian fjord, from Old Norse fjǫrthr — more at ford

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fjord was in 1674

Rhymes for fjord

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Browse Nearby Words

fjeld
fjord
fjorded
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Cite this Entry

“Fjord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fjord. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fjord

noun
variants also fiord
fē-ˈȯrd
: a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes
Etymology

Norwegian

More from Merriam-Webster on fjord

Nglish: Translation of fjord for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fjord

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