Sometimes arctic of, relating to, or located at or near the North Pole.
the Arctic region.
Sometimes arctic coming from the North Pole or the Arctic region.
an Arctic wind.
Often arctic suitable for use in the Arctic.
Arctic boots.
Usually arctic characteristic of the extremely cold, snowy, windy weather north of the Arctic Circle; frigid; bleak.
an arctic winter.
arctic, extremely cold in manner, atmosphere, etc..
a look of arctic disdain.
the Arctic, the region lying north of the Arctic Circle or of the northernmost limit of tree growth; the polar area north of the timberline.
arctics, warm, waterproof overshoes.
of or relating to the Arctic
arctic temperatures
informal cold; freezing
the weather at Christmas was arctic
a high waterproof overshoe with buckles
(modifier) designed or suitable for conditions of extreme cold
arctic clothing
The weather of the Arctic is characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers.
The Arctic has been the object of much exploration by air, land, and sea. The shortest distance by plane between continents in the Northern Hemisphere is often over the Arctic.
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin arcticus, from Greek arktikós “northern,” literally, “of the Bear,” equivalent to árkt(os), “bear” ( see Ursa Major) + -ikos -ic; replacing Middle English artik, from Middle French artique, from Latin
If the weatherman warns of arctic conditions, get out your thermal underwear, hats, and gloves. It's going to be cold. The word arctic describes frigid and inhospitable weather. The word arctic refers to the Arctic Circle — the North Pole and the land that surrounds it — which is the northernmost major circle of latitude on the Earth. When you think of the word arctic, imagine the weather at the North Pole, cold and windy, suitable only for hearty animals and mythical toy-making elves. Bundle up for the arctic blast heading down from Canada towards the U.S.!
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The research team came across intriguing findings from their study of shift workers in the Arctic Circle, where the sun barely sets in summer and sleep has to be won from the never-ending day.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
The team plans to search for molecular fingerprints of this process in both surface and deep waters during a future expedition to the Arctic aboard the German research vessel Polarstern.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026
In May, the Arctic tundra around Pikka was abuzz with activity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
He died in an Arctic prison colony in February 2024 while serving a 19-year sentence.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
The same size as the one of the Arctic Tern.
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
"These landscapes are changing fast, and arctic and alpine glaciers might be some of the first habitats lost completely to climate change," she said.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
Translated from the Dutch by Michele Hutchison, “Snow Fox” follows Rana, an arctic fox who lives in the remote northern reaches of Svalbard, Norway.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026
In the area with cold plunging and a sauna, the walls undulate with patterns that change color, designed to evoke arctic caves and volcanic rock.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2026
It was also the biggest one-week percentage jump on record, driven by an arctic blast that brought dangerous cold, heavy snow and ice and disrupted travel in much of the central and eastern U.S..
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 26, 2026
They both saw it at the same time: an arctic ninja, almost invisible as he moved against the white hill a few dozen meters away.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
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.
