oceanic

adjective

oce·​an·​ic ˌō-shē-ˈa-nik 

1

a

: of or relating to the ocean

b

: occurring in or frequenting the ocean and especially the open sea as distinguished from littoral or neritic waters

2

: vast, great

3

Oceanic linguistics : relating to, belonging to, or characterizing a subfamily of the Austronesian family of languages that is spoken in Polynesia and most of the islands of Melanesia and Micronesia

Synonyms of oceanic

• marine
• maritime

Examples of oceanic in a Sentence

the theory that ancient mariners took advantage of oceanic currents to roam the seas on primitive rafts

during his solo crossing of the Atlantic he managed to avoid the fierce oceanic storms that rage in those tropical latitudes

Recent Examples on the Web

Located within an uplifted section of oceanic crust known as an ophiolite, the Bulqizë reservoir generates its own continuous supply of clean energy. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026

This extra oceanic warmth is also likely to extend hurricane further into fall, with more intense hurricanes more likely than not through at least early November. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

The Bahamas are home to about 40 shark species, including great hammerheads, oceanic whitetip, and bull sharks, according to American Surf Magazine. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026

As opposed to infantile regression, the oceanic feeling can also be understood as a means of recapturing a repressed sense of relation, connection, affinities. — George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin Ōceanicus, from Ōceanus "the sea flowing around the land mass of the known world, ocean" + -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing oceanic

• inter-oceanic
• oceanic whitetip
• oceanic white-tipped shark
• oceanic whitetip shark

Rhymes for oceanic

• botanic
• brahmanic
• britannic
• galvanic
• germanic
• hispanic
• koranic
• mechanic
• organic
• puranic
• quranic
• romanic