atoll

American  

[at-awl, -ol, -ohl, uh-tawl, uh-tol, uh-tohl] / ˈæt ɔl, -ɒl, -oʊl, əˈtɔl, əˈtɒl, əˈtoʊl /

noun

1. a ring-shaped coral reef or a string of closely spaced small coral islands, enclosing or nearly enclosing a shallow lagoon.

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atoll British  

/ əˈtɒl, ˈætɒl /

noun

1. a circular coral reef or string of coral islands surrounding a lagoon

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Etymology

Origin of atoll

First recorded in 1615–25; earlier atollon, from French: a word used in early descriptions of the Maldive Island atolls; said to be Divehi ( Indo-Aryan language of the Maldives) atoḷu

Explanation

An atoll is an island formed by a ring-shaped coral reef encircling a lagoon. The word comes from the language of the Maldives, an island chain in the Indian Ocean famous for gorgeous beaches and coral reefs. The word atoll appeared in English in the early 17th century, when the British and the Dutch were vying for control of Indian Ocean trade. You may have heard of Bikini Atoll, in the South Pacific — where the U.S. did extensive nuclear testing in the 1940s and 1950s. Its people were moved to neighboring atolls but haven’t been able to return because of lingering radiation. Even so, Bikini Atoll has become a destination for divers interested in WWII shipwrecks.

Example Sentences

When the Marines headed toward the beach on the Tarawa atoll in 1943, things didn’t go well.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Under a contentious deal inked with Australia this year, the island nation will provide 30-year visas for up to 350 immigrants -- many convicted of serious crimes -- for resettlement on the barren atoll.

From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025

As Bonlieu toiled away in Auckland, Warrior crew members were moving a community of cancer-stricken Marshall Islanders, ignored by the American government that had irradiated their atoll, to a new home.

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2025

“The Aviator and the Showman” leaves no doubt about Earhart’s disappearance: She misjudged her gasoline reserves, panicked and crashed near tiny Howland atoll.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 11, 2025

On the second day his company was assembled on the top deck and told that they were moving toward Tarawa atoll, where they would go ashore at Betio, a strongly defended island.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Related Words

• isle
• reef