tsunami
Americannoun
noun
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a large, often destructive, sea wave produced by a submarine earthquake, subsidence, or volcanic eruption. Sometimes incorrectly called a tidal wave
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a sudden increase in or overwhelming number or volume of
the tsunami of Olympic visitors
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A very large ocean wave that is caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption and often causes extreme destruction when it strikes land. Tsunamis can have heights of up to 30 m (98 ft) and reach speeds of 950 km (589 mi) per hour. They are characterized by long wavelengths of up to 200 km (124 mi) and long periods, usually between 10 and 60 minutes.
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See Note at tidal wave
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of tsunami
1905–10; < Japanese, equivalent to tsu harbor (earlier tu ) + nami wave
Compare meaning
How does tsunami compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A tsunami is an enormous sea wave that erupts and reaches land. You should be afraid of them, because a tsunami can destroy a coastal region in minutes. Japan has had the misfortune of experiencing many tsunamis. They're caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. In Japanese, tsu means "harbor" and nami means "wave." We sometimes use tsunami metaphorically, to describe really destructive events. After your parents came home, they compared the mess from your party to a tsunami.
Vocabulary lists containing tsunami
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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Physical Geography - Introductory
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Brace Yourself: Earthquake Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The earthquake saw thousands of people ordered to evacuate in coastal areas of the southern Philippines and neighbouring Indonesia as tsunami warnings were issued by multiple countries and a regional warning centre.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a notice that tsunami waves were possible "within the next three hours" along the coasts of the Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Shortly after the quake on Monday morning, authorities in Japan warned of one-metre-tall tsunami waves reaching its shores.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
Now comes what he believes is the biggest tsunami of them all: generative artificial intelligence.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026
“It was the equivalent of the earthquake going off,” he said, “and then, much later, the tsunami arrives.”
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
