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 Australian Antarctic Program, a partnership between government and research institutions, will continue to monitor for signs of bird flu in its territories.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

Bird flu has killed thousands of southern elephant seal pups on remote Antarctic islands belonging to Australia, new research has shown.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

"It was designed specifically to explore close to the Antarctic to understand more about the bottom of the seas."

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

Researchers have identified a massive hidden geological feature beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, revealing a previously unrecognized connection between some of the continent's largest buried landscapes.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026

The weather was growing fouler every day as the Antarctic winter approached, with hard frosts and cold rain.

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

Related Words

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