fjord

noun

fē-ˈȯrd  ˈfē-ˌȯrd 

ˈfyȯrd

variants or less commonly fiord

: a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes

the fjords of Norway

Illustration of fjord

Synonyms

• bay
• cove
• gulf
• port
• estuary

Examples of fjord in a Sentence

a cruise through the breathtaking fjords along the coast of Norway

Recent Examples on the Web

And twenty miles across the fjord’s channel, three sea kayakers camping on high ground woke up to ocean water dripping into their tent, their gear strewn across the shore. —Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025

The film shows what happens when an entire mountain collapses into a fjord, triggering a tsunami that promises to ravage the quiet coastal town of Geiranger in ten minutes. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025

So following five months in Antarctica, Ultramarine and her crew were pining for the fjords of Chilean Patagonia. —Stefanie Waldek, AFAR Media, 12 Sep. 2025

Travelers can expect to sail past incredible vistas of fjords and towering glaciers, or get their hearts pumping with a requisite polar plunge, diving into the icy waters for the ultimate rush. —Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Norwegian fjord, from Old Norse fjǫrthr — more at ford

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fjord

• board
• bored
• chord
• cord
• corde
• cored
• floored
• gored
• gourd
• hoard
• horde
• lord

Kids Definition

fjord

noun

variants also fiord

fē-ˈȯrd

: a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes

Etymology

Norwegian