Southern Ocean

[ suhth-ern oh-shuhn ]

noun

1. the waters surrounding Antarctica, comprising the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, with its deepest section in the South Sandwich Trench. 8,478,800 square miles (21,960,000 square kilometers).

Southern Ocean

noun

1. See Antarctic Ocean
   another name for the Antarctic Ocean

Word History and Origins

Origin of Southern Ocean¹

First recorded in 1660–70, referring to any southern sea; current sense dates from 1700–10

Example Sentences

The Australians speak with awe of what they call the Great Southern Ocean.

From The Daily Beast

"We have the show that may be the closing note on whaling in the Southern Ocean," she said.

From The Daily Beast

It thus comes about that the tide throughout the Atlantic basin is much higher than in the southern ocean.

From Project Gutenberg

Only in the southern ocean can the waters obey the lunar and solar attraction in anything like a normal way.

From Project Gutenberg

In Otaheite, an island in the Southern Ocean, we are presented with women of a singular character.

From Project Gutenberg

The difficulties of sounding in the Southern Ocean were much increased by the almost constant, heavy swell.

From Project Gutenberg

The steep swell of the southern ocean breaks heavily along the coast.

From Project Gutenberg