tsunami

noun

tsu·​na·​mi (t)su̇-ˈnä-mē 

plural tsunamis also tsunami

: a great sea wave produced especially by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption : tidal wave

tsunamic

(t)su̇-ˈnä-mik 

adjective

Examples of tsunami in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If the news of a $43 million shortfall was a tsunami, then Thursday’s news is a bomb. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026

After the tsunami, global real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts partnered to reimagine Kona Village. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

Why the restart matters Japan shut down all of its 54 nuclear reactors in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered meltdowns at Fukushima Daiichi, the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026

But this change feels like a way to help stop the coming tsunami of litigation over eligibility. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from tsu harbor + nami wave

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tsunami

• salami
• tatami
• thalami
• balmy
• brahmi
• commie
• mommy
• palmy
• rami
• saami
• swami
• swamy

Kids Definition

tsunami

noun

tsu·​na·​mi (t)su̇-ˈnäm-ē 

: a great sea wave produced especially by an earthquake or volcanic eruption under the sea : tidal wave

Etymology

Japanese, from tsu "harbor" + nami "wave"