lagoon

American  

[luh-goon] / ləˈgun /

noun

• lagoons
  plural

1. an area of shallow water separated from the sea by low sandy dunes.

2. Also lagune any small, pondlike body of water, especially one connected with a larger body of water.

3. an artificial pool for storage and treatment of polluted or excessively hot sewage, industrial waste, etc.

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lagoon British  

/ ləˈɡuːn /

noun

1. a body of water cut off from the open sea by coral reefs or sand bars

2. any small body of water, esp one adjoining a larger one

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lagoon Scientific  

/ lə-go̅o̅n′ /

1. A shallow body of salt water close to the sea but separated from it by a narrow strip of land, such as a barrier island, or by a coral reef.

2. A shallow pond or lake close to a larger lake or river but separated from it by a barrier such as a levee.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lagoonal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lagoons
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of lagoon

1605–15; earlier laguna (singular), lagune (plural) < Italian < Latin lacūna (singular), lacūnae (plural) “ditch, pool,” akin to lacus basin, lake ¹; see lacuna

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Explanation

If you are snorkeling off the coast of Florida in water cut off from the main ocean, you are likely in a lagoon — a body of water separated from the main ocean. If you’re familiar with the 60s TV show “Gilligan’s Island,” you probably already know what a lagoon is. Much of the show’s action took place at the lagoon, where the lovable castaways spent their time hanging around and planning how to be rescued. A lagoon is a good place for castaways to congregate because it’s shallow and separated from the ocean by a natural barrier, which means it’s protected from the rough waters of the ocean and offers easier access for swimming and fishing. If you’re ever stranded on a deserted island, you too would probably choose to spend your time at the lagoon, staring into the distance and watching for approaching ships.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lagoon lagoons

The team are aiming to find what has been called the Taraia Object, first spotted sitting on the edge of a lagoon off Nikumaroro in satellite imagery in 2020.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

On our maiden voyage in French Polynesia, we sailed to the lagoon of an island called Huahine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

"You can swim for hours and hours along the reef in the lagoon, just skeleton after skeleton. It's all dead," said marine biologist Austin Bowden-Kerby, who visited last year and documented the devastation.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

Llwyneinion lagoon was recently branded "a shame on Britain", following the documentary into historical dumping of PCBs by US chemical giant Monsanto, which had factories in Wrexham and Newport.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

They searched the camp, the lagoon, the fishing lines, the jetty, everywhere they could think to look.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray

The volcanic island is surrounded by reefs, white-sand beaches, and turquoise lagoons, offering Gibson an extraordinary level of privacy far removed from Hollywood.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

The heat has warmed the lagoons, boosting the growth of algae that cover the shellfish.

From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026

Meanwhile, environmental restoration has made some of Brazil’s urban riverbanks and lagoons friendlier to capybaras.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

They’re also a major tourist attraction during their annual 12,000-mile round-trip migration between the Arctic and their breeding lagoons in Baja California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026

The White City was a labyrinth of lagoons and tended gardens, and spread throughout it all, towering buildings crammed from floor to ceiling with exhibits.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

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Related Words

• bayou
• pond
• pool

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