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
The region is made up of three coral atolls — Fakaofo, Atafu, and Nukunonu — and is not an easy place to get to, with no harbors, ports, or airports.
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Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
The resort's buildings are not exactly new; Le Méridien Bora Bora used to sit on this plot of the atoll, but following an extensive renovation and rebrand, as of September 2024, The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa offers a completely new experience.
—Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2025
Facing rising sea levels and biodiversity loss, the low-lying atoll hopes to raise funds for climate resilience projects like solar energy installation and water security.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025
Researchers also hope the protection will ultimately help make the atolls’ coral reefs more resilient in the face of threats like climate change and disease.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025
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Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
The resort's buildings are not exactly new; Le Méridien Bora Bora used to sit on this plot of the atoll, but following an extensive renovation and rebrand, as of September 2024, The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa offers a completely new experience.
—Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2025
Facing rising sea levels and biodiversity loss, the low-lying atoll hopes to raise funds for climate resilience projects like solar energy installation and water security.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025
Researchers also hope the protection will ultimately help make the atolls’ coral reefs more resilient in the face of threats like climate change and disease.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Jan. 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 22 Apr. 2025.
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