Antarctic

American  

[ant-ahrk-tik, -ahr-tik] / æntˈɑrk tɪk, -ˈɑr tɪk /

adjective

1. Sometimes antarctic of, at, or near the South Pole.

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noun

1. the Antarctic, the continent of Antarctica along with the Southern Ocean.

Antarctic British  

/ æntˈɑːktɪk /

noun

1. Antarctica and the surrounding waters

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adjective

1. of or relating to the south polar regions

Antarctic Cultural  

1. The region around the South Pole, Antarctica, and the surrounding ocean.

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Etymology

Origin of Antarctic

First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin antarcticus, from Greek antarktikós; replacing Middle English antartik or directly from Middle French, from Medieval Latin antarticus; see ant-, Arctic

Example Sentences

The study was led by Dr. Egidio Armadillo of the University of Genoa and was supported by the Italian National Antarctic Research Program.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026

Their analysis indicates that the feature is the result of deep tectonic processes operating within the Antarctic lithosphere.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026

Lower sea levels reduced pressure on the bedrock beneath Antarctic ice shelves, allowing the land underneath to slowly rise upward.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2026

Together, these mechanisms helped create the larger and more persistent Antarctic ice sheets that later defined Earth's ice age cycles.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2026

If Shackleton did not reach the edge of the continent before the end of the short Antarctic summer, the ice would shut him out.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

Related Words

• chilly
• freezing
• frosty
• frozen
• glacial
• ice-cold
• icy
• wintry