fjord

noun

fē-ˈȯrd How to pronounce fjord (audio)
ˈfē-ˌȯrd;
ˈfyȯrd How to pronounce fjord (audio)
variants or less commonly fiord
: a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes
the fjords of Norway

Illustration of fjord

Illustration of fjord

Examples of fjord in a Sentence

a cruise through the breathtaking fjords along the coast of Norway
Recent Examples on the Web Dozens of cruise ships sail along Greenland’s coast every year so passengers can admire the picturesque mountainous landscape with fjords, musk oxen, and the waterways packed with icebergs of different sizes and glaciers jutting out into the sea. Jan M. Olsen, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2023 The wedding will take place on Aug. 24 in Geiranger, prized for its typical Norwegian scenery among mountains and fjords. Mark Lewis, Fortune, 13 Sep. 2023 Submersible trips also offer dramatic underwater views of fjords, icebergs, and whales. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2023 Most of the rooms come with a stunning view of the fjord and its breathtaking icebergs. Caroline Hallemann, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2023 Klein moved to the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia during the pandemic, a riotously beautiful nook of that vast province, where towns are nestled into fjords. Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023 The line also monitors phytoplankton in Antarctic fjords, forwarding data to researchers who track how melting glaciers affect this vital food source. Elaine Glusac, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2023 The Faroe Islands are distinguished by their precipitous cliffs, fjords and valleys. Kim Tingley, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2023 Under normal conditions, the sediment in bays and fjords around the Aleutians is very fine-grained, like silt or mud. Theo Greenly, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fjord.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Norwegian fjord, from Old Norse fjǫrthr — more at ford

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fjord was in 1674

Dictionary Entries Near fjord

Cite this Entry

“Fjord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fjord. Accessed 27 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

fjord

noun
variants also fiord
fē-ˈȯrd
: a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes
Etymology

Norwegian

More from Merriam-Webster on fjord

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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