tornado

noun

tor·​na·​do tȯr-ˈnā-(ˌ)dō 

plural tornadoes or tornados

1

a

: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land

b

: a squall accompanying a thunderstorm in Africa

2

: a violent windstorm : whirlwind

3

archaic : a tropical thunderstorm

Examples of tornado in a Sentence

in the path of a tornado

Recent Examples on the Web

Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, has written about hurricanes, tornadoes and violent weather for more than 30 years. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025

The tornado affected approximately 90% of the residences and commercial buildings in the municipality, according to the state government. —CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025

According to the weather service, Tennessee experiences a secondary tornado season due to the main polar jet stream shifting back southward as fall transitions into winter and the polar jet stream brings stronger storm systems and more powerful warm/cold fronts to Middle Tennessee. —Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Nov. 2025

Alas, there is no end in sight to the tornado of hoity-toity chaos that is Martin Levy. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

modification of Spanish tronada thunderstorm, from tronar to thunder, from Latin tonare — more at thunder entry 1

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for tornado

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

tornado

noun

tor·​na·​do tȯr-ˈnād-ō 

plural tornadoes or tornados

: a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that moves in a narrow path over the land