variants
or less commonly savannah
1
: a treeless plain especially in Florida
2
a
: a tropical or subtropical grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees and drought-resistant undergrowth
b
: a temperate grassland with scattered trees (such as oaks)
Examples of savanna in a Sentence
lions roaming the savanna
Recent Examples on the Web
The once-damp rainforest canopy could shift to a dry savanna for at least several centuries.
—
Alexandra A Phillips, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
The species was thought to be restricted to the Amazon Rainforest and the regions that border the forest before the Cerrado, or savanna, begins, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Located right outside of town in neighboring Moss Point, the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve offers 18,000 acres of pine savannas, salt marshes, bays, bayous, and salt pannes to explore.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
The median life expectancy for a female African savanna elephant in captivity is about 39 years.
—Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for savanna
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.
Alexandra A Phillips, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
The species was thought to be restricted to the Amazon Rainforest and the regions that border the forest before the Cerrado, or savanna, begins, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Located right outside of town in neighboring Moss Point, the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve offers 18,000 acres of pine savannas, salt marshes, bays, bayous, and salt pannes to explore.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
The median life expectancy for a female African savanna elephant in captivity is about 39 years.
—Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for savanna
Cite this Entry
“Savanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savanna. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
savanna
noun
sa·van·na
variants
also savannah
: a grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share