heat island

noun

plural heat islands

: an urban area that experiences higher atmospheric temperatures than the surrounding environment (as due to having less greenery and more structures that absorb and retain heat)

—often used before another noun

factors that contribute to a heat island effect

Examples of heat island in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My district has heat islands, food insecurity areas, and a lack of public green spaces. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026

Urban areas with a lot of pavement and buildings – known as heat islands – can have temperatures well above the city’s average. — Brian Bossak, The Conversation, 1 July 2026

Without the cooling effect of trees, the urban heat island effect across the world’s cities would be twice as hot, a new study by The Nature Conservancy found. — Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 7 May 2026

As our research has shown, cities typically hold additional heat compared to surrounding rural locations because of the urban heat island. — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heat island

• dryland