permafrost

noun

per·​ma·​frost ˈpər-mə-ˌfrȯst How to pronounce permafrost (audio)
: a permanently frozen layer at variable depth below the surface in frigid regions of a planet (such as earth)

Examples of permafrost in a Sentence

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.
Microplastics have infiltrated virtually every corner of Earth, from the Arctic permafrost to inside marine animals. Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 20 Feb. 2025 Fire can then create a feedback loop that leads to more thawing permafrost, priming more of the landscape to burn. Umair Irfan, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 Accelerated permafrost thaw in the state has also been observed in recent decades. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025 The Amazon basin could soon morph from tropical forest to savanna, and billions of tons of carbon will begin to leach from Siberia’s permafrost. Simone Tagliapietra, Foreign Affairs, 19 July 2021 See All Example Sentences for permafrost

Word History

Etymology

permanent + frost

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of permafrost was in 1943

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Permafrost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permafrost. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

permafrost

noun
per·​ma·​frost ˈpər-mə-ˌfrȯst How to pronounce permafrost (audio)
: a permanently frozen layer at variable depth below the surface in frigid regions of a planet (as earth)

More from Merriam-Webster on permafrost

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!