La Niña
Americannoun
noun
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A cooling of the surface water of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, occurring somewhat less frequently than El Niño events but causing similar, generally opposite disruptions to global weather patterns. La Niña conditions occur when the Pacific trade winds blow more strongly than usual, pushing the sun-warmed surface water farther west and increasing the upwelling of cold water in the eastern regions. Together with the atmospheric effects of the related southern oscillation, the cooler water brings drought to western South America and heavy rains to eastern Australia and Indonesia.
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Compare El Niño
Etymology
Origin of La Niña
First recorded in 1985–90; from Spanish: literally, “the female child”; patterned after El Niño ( def. )
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.
El Niño is one phase in a recurring global cycle known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, with its counterpart being La Niña.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
The transition could take place rapidly, he said, adding that some research suggests climate change is contributing to more frequent, extreme swings from La Niña to El Niño.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Both El Niño and its counterpart La Niña are natural shifts in global weather patterns, primarily focused on Pacific Ocean temperatures, but they can impact the whole planet.
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026
A temporary cooling from the natural La Niña weather pattern meant that 2025 was not quite as hot as 2024, which was boosted by the opposite El Niño phase.
From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026
His eyes wandered over the valley, now raised to the cliff of La Niña, and now resting upon the weed-covered ruin.
From The White Chief A Legend of Northern Mexico by Evans, L.
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.
