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zonal

adjective

zon·​al ˈzō-nᵊl How to pronounce zonal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, affecting, or having the form of a zone
a zonal boundary
2
: of, relating to, or being a soil or a major soil group marked by well-developed characteristics that are determined primarily by the action of climate and organisms (such as vegetation) compare azonal, intrazonal
zonally adverb

Examples of zonal in a Sentence

We installed a zonal heating system in the house.
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.
This weakness is linked to very low winds high above the Arctic, called zonal winds, which are now declining and approaching 0 m/s, a threshold that can trigger an event called major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW). Brandi D. Addison, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Nov. 2025 In the graph, many forecast members (blue lines) dip toward or below 0 m/s in late November, showing the potential for a significant weakening or even reversal of the 10 hPa zonal winds, compared with the typical climatological values shown in red. Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 14 Nov. 2025 This weakness is linked to very low winds high above the Arctic, called zonal winds, which are now declining and approaching 0 m/s, a threshold that can trigger an event called major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW). Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 14 Nov. 2025 Initially, Gibbs-White is marking Casemiro (yellow), but since Forest are implementing a zonal setup, the England midfielder switches his attention to Sesko. Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for zonal

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of zonal was in 1867

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Cite this Entry

“Zonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zonal. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

zonal

adjective
zon·​al ˈzōn-ᵊl How to pronounce zonal (audio)
: of, relating to, or having the form of a zone
a zonal boundary

Medical Definition

zonal

adjective
zon·​al ˈzōn-ᵊl How to pronounce zonal (audio)
: of, relating to, affecting, or having the form of a zone
a zonal boundary
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