antarctic

adjective

ant·​arc·​tic (ˌ)ant-ˈärk-tik How to pronounce antarctic (audio) -ˈär-tik How to pronounce antarctic (audio)
variants often Antarctic
: of or relating to the South Pole or to the region near it

Examples of antarctic in a Sentence

The group is involved in Antarctic exploration.
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.
The concerns that led to the committee being created 44 years ago – fears about krill fishing harming krill-dependent Antarctic wildlife – have not diminished over the decades. — Kim S. Bernard, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026 The vortexes over both the Arctic and Antarctic form in the fall when temperatures begin to cool. — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 An Antarctic polar blast swept across parts of New Zealand’s South Island on Tuesday, bringing snow to sea level and icy temperatures that forced road closures and disrupted schools. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026 Shackleton, one of history's most celebrated Antarctic explorers, died on Quest in 1922 at age 47. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for antarctic

Word History

Etymology

Middle English antartik, from Latin antarcticus, from Greek antarktikos, from anti- + arktikos arctic

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of antarctic was in 1594

Phrases Containing antarctic

Rhymes for antarctic

See All Rhymes for antarctic

Browse Nearby Words

Antarctalian
antarctic
Antarctica
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Antarctic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antarctic. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

antarctic

adjective
ant·​arc·​tic (ˈ)ant-ˈärk-tik How to pronounce antarctic (audio) -ˈärt-ik How to pronounce antarctic (audio)
often capitalized
: of or relating to the South Pole or to the region near it
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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