savanna

noun

sa·​van·​na sə-ˈva-nə How to pronounce savanna (audio)
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
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.
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

Word History

Etymology

Spanish zavana, from Taino zabana

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of savanna was in 1555

Cite this Entry

“Savanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savanna. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

savanna

noun
sa·​van·​na
variants also savannah
: a grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees

More from Merriam-Webster on savanna

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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