Siberia
Americannoun
-
Russian Sibir. an extensive region in the Russian Federation in N Asia, extending from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific.
-
any undesirable or isolated locale, job, etc., to which one is assigned as punishment, a mark of disfavor, or the like.
noun
Discover More
As a consequence of Siberia's harsh conditions and its historical function as a place of punishment, to be “sent to Siberia” has become a metaphor for demotion, disgrace, or other forms of status diminution.
Known for its vast space, long and severely cold winters, and few inhabitants widely scattered in small settlements, Siberia has been for many centuries a place of political and criminal exile for Russians who anger the government's authorities.
Other Word Forms
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.
An international team of scientists examined ancient DNA from human remains recovered at four hunter-gatherer cemeteries near Lake Baikal in East Siberia.
From Science Daily • Jun. 18, 2026
If completed, the Power of Siberia 2 "would deepen that interdependence" while also signalling that Russia "is not isolated and can still execute major infrastructure projects", he added.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
Icebreakers have been used by Russia in recent years to export natural gas and minerals year-round from Siberia to Asia through the Northern Sea Route.
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
At Tyumen University in Siberia, some 2,000 students signed a petition against a move to make the school’s Wi-Fi accessible only through Max.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
“We could be going to...I don’t know. Siberia or something.”
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
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.
