lagoon

play

noun la·goon \ lə-ˈgün \

Definition of lagoon

1 :a shallow sound, channel, or pond near or communicating with a larger body of water

2 :a shallow artificial pool or pond (as for the processing of sewage or storage of a liquid)

—

lagoonal

play \lə-ˈgü-nᵊl\ adjective

See lagoon defined for English-language learners

See lagoon defined for kids

Recent Examples of lagoon from the Web

Many of the houses are located right on a lagoon, where visitors spend most their days kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding down the water.

— madeleine luckel, Vogue, "Six Amazing Last-Minute Labor Day Trips," 24 Aug. 2017
Were people here early enough to visit such lagoons?

— lizzie wade, Science | AAAS, "Most archaeologists think the first Americans arrived by boat. Now, they’re beginning to prove it," 10 Aug. 2017
Located on glassy Quonochontaug Pond, actually a saltwater lagoon as well as a short walk from stunning ocean beaches, one never lacks swimming options (there's also a heated lap pool and sun deck with Jacuzzi).

— hannah seligson, Town & Country, "T&C Travel Guide: Watch Hill, Rhode Island," 20 July 2017
At one point, Dallas sported a dancehall, a little amusement park and a swimming beach on a creek lagoon.

— darryl levings, kansascity, "How KC’s Watts Mill became a mill — and a fiddler’s paradise," 18 July 2017
Flamingos are considered to be water birds that live in and around lagoons or lakes.

— prescotte stokes iii, AL.com, "Pink flamingos appear on Johnson Beach during Tropical Storm Cindy," 22 June 2017
Take the scenic tram ride to the beach over tidal lagoons, or wander the adjacent trails of Lovers Key State Park.

— Smithsonian, "Discover more of Fort Myers and Sanibel's pristine beaches.," 21 June 2017
Following Lane’s death, Disney World officials were criticized for their failure to provide proper warning signage along the lagoon.

— Fox News, "Disney planning sculpture in memory 2-year-old boy who was killed by alligator," 14 June 2017
In the early Middle Ages, when Venice was a mere collection of primitive lagoon communities banded together for protection against the Huns and other invaders, men of the Brandolini d’Adda clan were among the fierce condottieri—

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "Inside “La Dolce Vita” of Countess Cristiana Brandolini D’Adda," 12 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lagoon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of lagoon

French & Italian; French lagune, from Italian laguna, from Latin lacuna pit, pool, from lacus lake

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1673

See Words from the same year

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

LAGOON Defined for English Language Learners

lagoon

play

noun

Definition of lagoon for English Language Learners

: an area of sea water that is separated from the ocean by a reef or sandbar

LAGOON Defined for Kids

lagoon

play

noun la·goon \ lə-ˈgün \

Definition of lagoon for Students

:a shallow channel or pond near or connected to a larger body of water

Learn More about lagoon

See words that rhyme with lagoon Spanish Central: Translation of lagoon Nglish: Translation of lagoon for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lagoon for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lagoon

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up lagoon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

lagoon

Definition of lagoon

lagoonal

Recent Examples of lagoon from the Web

Origin and Etymology of lagoon

Other Geology Terms

LAGOON Defined for English Language Learners

lagoon

Definition of lagoon for English Language Learners

LAGOON Defined for Kids

lagoon

Definition of lagoon for Students

Learn More about lagoon

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

legerity

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Let's Talk 'Tea'

8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

Ask the Editors

Words of the Year: 1066

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Irregardless

Weird Plurals

Word Games

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Name That Thing

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066

lagoon

Definition of lagoon

lagoonal

People Are Reading

Recent Examples of lagoon from the Web

Origin and Etymology of lagoon

Other Geology Terms

LAGOON Defined for English Language Learners

lagoon

Definition of lagoon for English Language Learners

LAGOON Defined for Kids

lagoon

Definition of lagoon for Students

Learn More about lagoon

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066