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

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Examples of tundra in a Sentence

a report on the arctic tundra of Alaska and the polar bears that inhabit that vast, frozen plain
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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.
Around the dozens of containers that make Toolik the US’s largest research station in the Arctic, musk ox and caribou graze on dwarf birches and fragrant labrador tea, while Arctic ground squirrels pop out of their burrows to survey the tundra. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 By land, the trip is possible for only a few weeks each winter, when the swampy tundra freezes hard enough to construct a temporary road. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026 Trail Creek Trail Another Nabesna Road go-to is the Trail Creek Trail, a six-mile one-way route that includes creek hiking, tundra ascents, and potential sheep sightings. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026 Up here, on the tundra of Alaska’s North Slope, the summer sun dances in an unending ellipse. — Jordan McGillis, Washington Post, 18 July 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
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Cite this Entry

“Tundra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tundra. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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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

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