savanna

noun

sa·​van·​na sə-ˈva-nə 

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)

Synonyms of savanna

• prairie
• steppe
• plain
• grassland

Examples of savanna in a Sentence

lions roaming the savanna

Recent Examples on the Web

In a landscape that combined woodland patches and open savanna, that adaptability may have been key to survival. —Zelalem Bedaso, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026

The gorgeous grounds, twice daily game drives, incredible wildlife sightings, and savanna sunsets were all nothing short of breathtaking. —Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026

Enjoy a meal or snack at Mkutano House, Elephant Valley’s open-air dining experience where snacks and meals come with a side of gorgeous panoramas of the pond and savanna. —Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 2 Apr. 2026

This comparison only goes so far, of course; a theme‑park savanna and the real thing are as different as Orlando and Tsavo are distant. —David Dickstein, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish zavana, from Taino zabana

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for savanna

• arana
• arcana
• banana
• bandana
• bandanna
• brahmana
• cabana
• campana
• diana
• fianna
• hosanna
• hyaena

Kids Definition

savanna

noun

sa·​van·​na

variants also savannah

sə-ˈvan-ə 

: a grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees