tundra

noun

tun·​dra ˈtən-drə How to pronounce tundra (audio)
also ˈtu̇n-
Synonyms of tundranext
: a level or rolling treeless plain that is characteristic of arctic and subarctic regions, consists of black mucky soil with a permanently frozen subsoil, and has a dominant vegetation of mosses, lichens, herbs, and dwarf shrubs
also : a similar region confined to mountainous areas above timberline

Synonyms of tundra

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of tundra in a Sentence

a report on the arctic tundra of Alaska and the polar bears that inhabit that vast, frozen plain
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.
Waters are frozen early and often in the frozen tundra, which has made the Midwest somewhat of a hockey hotbed. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026 The same week of sky that delivers the aurora is also delivering polar bears on the tundra and beluga whales in the estuary. — Cody Chomiak, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 This inner strength is evident both in Nerkagi’s ability to organise the delivery of new equipment to the tundra, and in her strongly individual religious vision. — Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026 Crossing over the Continental Divide (following a similar route Native Americans once took), visitors might see elk, deer, and bighorn sheep above the tree line in the dramatic tundra. — Sarah Rose, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tundra

Word History

Etymology

Russian, from Russian dialect (northeast) tundra, tundara, from Kildin Sami (Sami language of the northern Kola Peninsula) tūnter

First Known Use

circa 1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tundra was circa 1841

Phrases Containing tundra

Browse Nearby Words

tundish
tundra
tundra swan
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

tundra

noun
tun·​dra ˈtən-drə How to pronounce tundra (audio)
also ˈtu̇n-
: a treeless plain especially of arctic regions having a permanently frozen layer below the surface soil and plant life made up mostly of mosses, lichens, herbs, and very small shrubs

More from Merriam-Webster on tundra

Nglish: Translation of tundra for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tundra

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All