Illustration of atoll
: a coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon
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If you are lucky enough to sail south and west of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, you'll find the Maldives, a group of about 1,200 coral islands and sandbanks that form the Republic of Maldives. Many islands in that independent nation demonstrate the archetypal atoll, and geographers often use them to point out the characteristic features of such coral islands. Given how prevalent atolls are there, it isn't surprising that atoll comes from the name for that kind of island in Divehi, the official language of the Maldives.
Examples of atoll in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Location Many resorts in Bora Bora are not located on the main island but rather on the atoll that surrounds it, and The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa is no exception.
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Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025
In 1982, Aldabra became the first atoll to gain UNESCO World Heritage protection status.
—Kevin Gepford, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
In the Bikini atoll where 23 nuclear tests were conducted (including the largest ever nuclear explosion), biodiversity studies conducted fifty years hence show remarkable recovery.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
The Marshall Islands, a group of 34 atolls and islands in the North Pacific, is home to 82,000 people and a key American military installation, the US Army Garrison Kwajalein, which helps in ballistic missile testing and tracking.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
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Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025
In 1982, Aldabra became the first atoll to gain UNESCO World Heritage protection status.
—Kevin Gepford, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
In the Bikini atoll where 23 nuclear tests were conducted (including the largest ever nuclear explosion), biodiversity studies conducted fifty years hence show remarkable recovery.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
The Marshall Islands, a group of 34 atolls and islands in the North Pacific, is home to 82,000 people and a key American military installation, the US Army Garrison Kwajalein, which helps in ballistic missile testing and tracking.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atoll
Cite this Entry
“Atoll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atoll. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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