atoll

noun

ˈa-ˌtȯl How to pronounce atoll (audio)
-ˌtäl,
-ˌtōl,
ˈā- How to pronounce atoll (audio)
: a coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon

Illustration of atoll

Illustration of atoll

Did you know?

If you are lucky enough to sail south and west of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, you'll find the Maldives, a group of about 1,200 coral islands and sandbanks that form the Republic of Maldives. Many islands in that independent nation demonstrate the archetypal atoll, and geographers often use them to point out the characteristic features of such coral islands. Given how prevalent atolls are there, it isn't surprising that atoll comes from the name for that kind of island in Divehi, the official language of the Maldives.

Examples of atoll in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The main islands, including Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai, are among a chain of islands, atolls, reefs and volcanoes beneath the sea that stretches 1,700 miles in the Pacific Ocean. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025 Complete with the largest coral atoll in Mexico, this is a supreme destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025 That includes lifeguard Renan Ulloa at the Parks department, which is ending lifeguard service at natural swimming holes known as atolls. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025 Yet, in recent decades, a tourism industry has blossomed here thanks to the atoll’s wild residents. Joe Sills, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for atoll

Word History

Etymology

Divehi (Indo-Aryan language of the Maldive Islands) atolu

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of atoll was in 1625

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Cite this Entry

“Atoll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atoll. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

atoll

noun
ˈa-ˌtȯl How to pronounce atoll (audio) -ˌtäl How to pronounce atoll (audio)
-ˌtōl,
ˈā-
: a coral island consisting of a coral reef surrounding a lagoon

More from Merriam-Webster on atoll

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