Antarctica

American  

[ant-ahrk-ti-kuh, -ahr-ti-] / æntˈɑrk tɪ kə, -ˈɑr tɪ- /

noun

1. the continent surrounding the South Pole: almost entirely covered by an ice sheet. About 5,000,000 sq. mi. (12,950,000 sq. km).

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Antarctica British  

/ æntˈɑːktɪkə /

noun

1. a continent around the South Pole: consists of an ice-covered plateau, 1800–3000 m (6000 ft to 10 000 ft) above sea level, and mountain ranges rising to 4500 m (15 000 ft) with some volcanic peaks; average temperatures all below freezing and human settlement is confined to research stations. All political claims to the mainland are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty of 1959

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Antarctica Cultural  

1. Continent surrounding the South Pole, located almost entirely within the Antarctic Circle. It is covered by an ice cap up to thirteen thousand feet thick.

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Antarctica is characterized by extremely low temperatures.

In 1911, Roald Amundsen became the first explorer to reach the South Pole, followed shortly thereafter by Robert Scott.

Example Sentences

The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius was on a 46-day journey that traveled from Antarctica with stops in Argentina.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Yet that’s unlikely to deter many travelers who see cruises, from Antigua to Antarctica, as the best way to travel.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

There are 149 passengers and crew members, including 17 Americans, on the MV Hondius, according to the privately held Dutch company Ocean Expeditions, which does longer expedition-style cruises in the Arctic and Antarctica.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

The Western Ghats were formed when Gondwana - a supercontinent that combined present-day South America, Africa, Arabia, Madagascar, India, Australia, and Antarctica - split up during the Jurassic Period.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

Unlike the other continents, Antarctica is completely surrounded by ocean, and there is no significant land to obstruct the rushing waves.

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