savanna

noun

sa·​van·​na sə-ˈva-nə How to pronounce savanna (audio)
variants or less commonly savannah
Synonyms of savannanext
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 centerpiece of the 13-acre-plus parkland is a curved bridge overlooking a savanna, allowing elephants to walk under guests. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Drawing inspiration from early 19th-century dioramas, Schuiten created three landscapes featuring scenes of exploration, including a steam train, hot-air balloons floating above the African savanna, and sherpas ascending steep mountains. Thor Svaboe, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2026 In the 1880s, Belgium’s King Leopold II annexed the entire Congo Basin, more than nine hundred thousand square miles of Central African jungle, highlands, savanna, and forest, Katanga included. Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026 That sheer size creates a surprising diversity of landscapes that set Ruaha apart from the Serengeti’s flatter savannas. Nicholas Derenzo, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026 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 8 Feb. 2026.

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

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