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
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
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
Sharks play an essential role in marine ecosystems, shaping prey populations and maintaining ecological balance, so their decline has ripple effects across entire oceanic food webs, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services that people rely on (from healthy fisheries to climate regulation).
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
My favorites are the oceanic greens and blues, one of which reminds me of a Rothko.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
In 1973, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) barred banned civil sonic booms over the US, restricting Concorde to oceanic routes and sealing its fate by 2003.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
And there’s the idea of the sea as this oceanic thing that’s much larger than us and the characters.
—Karim Kattan, The Dial, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oceanic
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
My favorites are the oceanic greens and blues, one of which reminds me of a Rothko.
—Paige Williams, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
In 1973, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) barred banned civil sonic booms over the US, restricting Concorde to oceanic routes and sealing its fate by 2003.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025
And there’s the idea of the sea as this oceanic thing that’s much larger than us and the characters.
—Karim Kattan, The Dial, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oceanic
Cite this Entry
“Oceanic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oceanic. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share