1
: a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas
2
: a narrow anatomical part or passage connecting two larger structures or cavities
Examples of isthmus in a Sentence
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Portages across the isthmus of Panama could shorten that, if there was a boat waiting on the Pacific side—all this was more than half a century before the Panama Canal existed.
—
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 23 Apr. 2025
Destinations One visit just barely scratches the surface of the isthmus nation that straddles Central and South America.
—Siobhan Reid, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2024
These pilots are the only ones allowed to make the 50-mile transit, with the ship’s captain required to cede control for the complex journey through the isthmus passage.
—Silvana Paternostro Nathalia Angarita, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
These pilots are the only ones allowed to make the 50-mile transit, with the ship’s captain required to cede control for the complex journey through the isthmus passage.
—Silvana Paternostro Nathalia Angarita, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
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Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 23 Apr. 2025
Destinations One visit just barely scratches the surface of the isthmus nation that straddles Central and South America.
—Siobhan Reid, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2024
These pilots are the only ones allowed to make the 50-mile transit, with the ship’s captain required to cede control for the complex journey through the isthmus passage.
—Silvana Paternostro Nathalia Angarita, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
These pilots are the only ones allowed to make the 50-mile transit, with the ship’s captain required to cede control for the complex journey through the isthmus passage.
—Silvana Paternostro Nathalia Angarita, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for isthmus
Cite this Entry
“Isthmus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/isthmus. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
isthmus
noun
isth·mus
ˈis-məs 
: a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas
Medical Definition
isthmus
noun
isth·mus
ˈis-məs
: a contracted anatomical part or passage connecting two larger structures or cavities: as
a
: an embryonic constriction separating the midbrain from the hindbrain
b
: the lower portion of the uterine corpus
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