tsunami

noun

tsu·​na·​mi (t)su̇-ˈnä-mē 

plural tsunamis also tsunami

: a great sea wave produced especially by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption : tidal wave

tsunamic

(t)su̇-ˈnä-mik 

adjective

Examples of tsunami in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Developers have multiple projects in the pipeline in Hood County, including a 2,600-acre data center complex called Comanche Circle that has triggered a tsunami of opposition from ranchers, landowners and conservationists near Glen Rose. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2026

Its closure followed the 2011 Fukushima disaster when a 49-foot-long (15-metre) tsunami disabled critical power and cooling systems. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026

If the news of a $43 million shortfall was a tsunami, then Thursday’s news is a bomb. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026

After the tsunami, global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts partnered to reimagine Kona Village. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from tsu harbor + nami wave

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tsunami

• salami
• tatami
• thalami
• balmy
• brahmi
• commie
• mommy
• palmy
• rami
• saami
• swami
• swamy

Kids Definition

tsunami

noun

tsu·​na·​mi (t)su̇-ˈnäm-ē 

: a great sea wave produced especially by an earthquake or volcanic eruption under the sea : tidal wave

Etymology

Japanese, from tsu "harbor" + nami "wave"