fjord

noun

fē-ˈȯrd How to pronounce fjord (audio)
ˈfē-ˌȯrd;
ˈfyȯrd How to pronounce fjord (audio)
variants or less commonly fiord
: a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes
the fjords of Norway

Illustration of fjord

Illustration of fjord

Examples of fjord in a Sentence

a cruise through the breathtaking fjords along the coast of Norway
Recent Examples on the Web And in July, the company will add week-long cruises to Denmark, Germany, and the Norwegian fjords. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 14 Mar. 2024 Marcus explains that 60% of the microplastic particles found in Chilean fjords corresponds to polyester fibers from human activities. Andrew Wight, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 In 1919, 11 men — about a third of the island’s men who were fit to work — died when two boats disappeared in the fjord during a storm. Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024 The water temperature in the fjord was 33.6 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, just barely above freezing. Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2024 There’s no word on casting, but the thriller will follow Johanne, a marine biologist who encounters several strange occurrences while researching a fjord, including the brutal deaths of two local teenagers. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024 The scenery is just as captivating as the storytelling: Think snowcapped mountains, sweeping aerial shots of frozen fjords, pristine snowy forests, and ice shards floating in dark rivers. Andrea Duncan-Mao, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2024 Just a few weeks after establishing a camp in Cumberland Bay, a deep, two-pronged fjord in the rugged island, Larsen’s men killed their first humpback. Douglas Main, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Jan. 2024 Two occupants of a Tesla that drove off an Oslo pier into the freezing fjord below were quickly rescued Thursday — by a floating sauna. Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fjord.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Norwegian fjord, from Old Norse fjǫrthr — more at ford

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fjord was in 1674

Dictionary Entries Near fjord

Cite this Entry

“Fjord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fjord. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fjord

noun
variants also fiord
fē-ˈȯrd
: a narrow inlet of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes
Etymology

Norwegian

More from Merriam-Webster on fjord

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!