Valhalla
noun
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In Norse mythology, the souls of warriors who died nobly in battle were brought to a magnificent palace, where they spent their days fighting for diversion, immune from lasting injury, and their evenings lustily feasting on freshly killed boar and quaffing the free-flowing mead. In Old Norse, the word for this warrior heaven is Valhǫll (literally, "hall of the slain"); in German, it is Walhalla. English speakers picked up the name as Valhalla in the 18th century. Nowadays, we can use the word figuratively, and induction or admission into a modern-day Valhalla doesn't require passing from this life. It can be a place of honor (a hall of fame, for example) or a place of bliss (as in "an ice cream lover's Valhalla").
Examples of Valhalla in a Sentence
Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Rounding out the Valhalla 1893’s extraordinary offerings?
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 May 2025
In Norse legend, they were known as the bridge to Valhalla.
—AFAR Media, 26 June 2025
While the show shares creative lineage with the 2013-20 History series Vikings and the 2022-25 Netflix follow-up Vikings: Valhalla — all three are based on historical figures and produced by MGM Television — Bloodaxe is not directly related to those efforts.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Valhalla
Cite this Entry
“Valhalla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Valhalla. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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Valhalla
noun
derived from an early Norse word Valhǫll, literally "hall of the slain," from valr "those slain (in battle)" and hǫll "hall"
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