aurora borealis

noun

aurora bo·​re·​al·​is -ˌbȯr-ē-ˈa-ləs How to pronounce aurora borealis (audio)
: an aurora that occurs in earth's northern hemisphere

called also northern lights

Examples of aurora borealis in a Sentence

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.
While destinations like Iceland, Norway, and Greenland attract travelers with unparalleled views of the aurora borealis, there are plenty of places Americans can spot the natural wonder closer to home—including some that definitely haven’t been on your For You Page. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025 What To Know According to the SWPC's viewline forecast, the aurora borealis may be visible over parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 Known for creating ribbons of colorful light in the night sky, the aurora borealis are polar lights, or aurora polaris, that appear in the northern hemisphere. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025 The aurora borealis danced in the night skies over northern Michigan multiple nights this week, and more could be on the way. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aurora borealis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, northern dawn

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aurora borealis was in 1707

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aurora borealis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aurora%20borealis. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

aurora borealis

noun
aurora bo·​re·​al·​is -ˌbōr-ē-ˈal-əs How to pronounce aurora borealis (audio)
-ˌbȯr-
: broad bands of light that have a magnetic and electrical source and that appear in the sky at night especially in the arctic region

called also northern lights

More from Merriam-Webster on aurora borealis

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