savanna

noun

sa·​van·​na sə-ˈva-nə How to pronounce savanna (audio)
variants or less commonly savannah
1
: a treeless plain especially in Florida
2
a
: a tropical or subtropical grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees and drought-resistant undergrowth
b
: a temperate grassland with scattered trees (such as oaks)

Examples of savanna in a Sentence

lions roaming the savanna
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.
The giant bison was an herbivore and grazed on the grasslands and open savannas of North America, feeding on a variety of plants. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Soon a vehicle picks them up from the tent, driving them through the savanna at sunset, with breathtaking views, as the elephants and their calves roam the area unconcerned. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025 Disney had people stationed across the savanna for Tucker’s protection. Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025 More than 30 percent of the biomass in such savannas gets consumed by termites hollowing out trunks from within, according to research by Zanne, a co-author of an article on deadwood and the carbon cycle in the 2024 Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for savanna

Word History

Etymology

Spanish zavana, from Taino zabana

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of savanna was in 1555

Cite this Entry

“Savanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savanna. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

savanna

noun
sa·​van·​na
variants also savannah
: a grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees

More from Merriam-Webster on savanna

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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