fiord

1 of 2

noun (1)

less common spelling of fjord

: a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes

the fjords of Norway

fjord

2 of 2

noun (2)

fē-ˈȯrd  ˈfē-ˌȯrd 

ˈfyȯrd

variants or less commonly fiord

: a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes

the fjords of Norway

Illustration of fjord

Synonyms of fiord

Noun (2)

• bay
• estuary
• loch
• cove

Examples of fiord in a Sentence

Noun (2)

a cruise through the breathtaking fjords along the coast of Norway

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Clients are helicoptered into a deep fiord where a private cruise transports them to a remote island. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026

The South Island is renowned for its spectacular natural scenery, from the golden beaches of Abel Tasman National Park to the fiords and mountains in the Southern Alps. — Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 24 Feb. 2026

Noun

The incident took place earlier this month when a vessel was sailing in a fjord in northeastern Svalbard, around 620 miles from the North Pole. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Michael Zeiler is currently aboard the expedition ship Ocean Explorer, heading to the fjords of Greenland to view the upcoming total solar eclipse on Wednesday. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Norwegian fjord, from Old Norse fjǫrthr — more at ford

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1674, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fiord

variant of fjord