savanna

noun

sa·​van·​na sə-ˈva-nə How to pronounce savanna (audio)
variants or less commonly savannah
1
: a treeless plain especially in Florida
2
a
: a tropical or subtropical grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees and drought-resistant undergrowth
b
: a temperate grassland with scattered trees (such as oaks)

Examples of savanna in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Corra's birth is significant for the endangered species — and offers a learning experience for Walt Disney World visitors, too On Thursday, Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom marked an exciting milestone when baby elephant Corra made her public debut on the savanna inside the park. Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2024 The delight in a child’s voice ringing across Kilimanjaro Safaris’ savanna captured the mood earlier this month as Corra, a two-month-old African elephant, made her public debut at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2024 The bee species also lives in the grasslands and pine savannas of Florida and the Southeast, according to the wildlife service. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2024 From the dense canopies of rainforests to the open expanses of savannas and woodlands, these primates have shown an incredible ability to thrive in various environments. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 30 Jan. 2024 The series brings viewers to New York City, a Costa Rican jungle, a backyard in suburban Texas, the African savanna, and a farm in Britain to see how familiar and more unique bugs live, eat, and get around. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Jan. 2024 Early in the morning, as the sunlight emerges timidly over the savanna, mist moves through intertwining forests and pasture. Luis Bernardo Cano, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct. 2023 In the Amazon, forest plots subjected to frequent fires began to resemble savannas; at these sites, ants and butterflies that favored forests declined, while species preferring open habitats moved in, scientists found. Emily Anthes, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2023 While eastern black rhinos are native to the warm savannas and shrublands of Africa, per the ICUN Red List, this fact didn't stop Tumani from frolicking in the snow. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'savanna.' 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

Spanish zavana, from Taino zabana

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of savanna was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near savanna

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

savanna

noun
sa·​van·​na
variants also savannah
: a grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees

More from Merriam-Webster on savanna

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