typhoon

noun

ty·​phoon tī-ˈfün How to pronounce typhoon (audio)
Synonyms of typhoonnext
1
: a hurricane occurring especially in the region of the Philippines or the East and South China seas
2
: whirlwind sense 2a
a typhoon of activity

Examples of typhoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The archipelago is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year. Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 The archipelago is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year. CBS News, 7 June 2026 Heavy rains from a typhoon delayed the search until Wednesday, according to Takuya Nishikawa of the Kyoto Prefectural Police Headquarters. Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 6 June 2026 However, a typhoon has made the search more difficult, according to Nancy. Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for typhoon

Word History

Etymology

alteration (influenced by Chin — Guangdong — daaih-fùng, from daaih big + fùng wind) of earlier touffon, from Arabic ṭūfān hurricane, from Greek typhōn violent storm

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of typhoon was in 1771

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Typhoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/typhoon. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

typhoon

noun
ty·​phoon tī-ˈfün How to pronounce typhoon (audio)
: a hurricane occurring in the region of the Philippines or the China Sea

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