Arctic Ocean

American  

[ahrk-tik oh-shuhn, ahr-tik] / ˈɑrk tɪk ˈoʊ ʃən, ˈɑr tɪk /

noun

1. the smallest of the world’s five principal oceans, located north of North America, Asia, and the Arctic Circle, with its deepest section within the Greenland Sea. 6,007,000 square miles (15,558,000 square kilometers).

---

Arctic Ocean British  

noun

1. the ocean surrounding the North Pole, north of the Arctic Circle. Area: about 14 100 000 sq km (5 440 000 sq miles)

---

Arctic Ocean Cultural  

1. The cold, ice-covered waters surrounding the North Pole, located entirely within the Arctic Circle. It contains the northernmost islands of Canada, Norway, and Russia.

---

Discover More

Most of the Arctic Ocean is covered by solid ice, ice floes, and icebergs.

Etymology

Origin of Arctic Ocean

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

Scientists say climate change is driving a major and potentially permanent transformation in the Arctic Ocean, disrupting the marine food chain from the bottom up.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

Greenland would be happy for the US to increase its military presence on the island, he said, with the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean "becoming much more of a military threat".

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

This US concern comes as climate change continues to make the Arctic Ocean more navigable for cargo ships, at least if icebreakers lead the way by cutting a path.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2026

Greenland sits where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Arctic Ocean.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

The ice cubes were miniature icebergs, the kind that sink ships in the Arctic Ocean.

From "The Old Willis Place" by Mary Downing Hahn