Nordic
adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of a Germanic people of northern European origin, exemplified by the Scandinavians.
Nordic
American
[nawr-dik]
/ ˈnɔr dɪk /
adjective
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of a Germanic people of northern European origin, exemplified by the Scandinavians.
-
having or suggesting the physical characteristics associated with these people, typically tall stature, blond hair, blue eyes, and elongated head.
-
(sometimes lowercase) of or relating to skiing events involving ski jumping and cross-country skiing.
noun
nordic
1
British
/ ˈnɔːdɪk /
adjective
-
skiing of or relating to competitions in cross-country racing and ski-jumping Compare alpine
-
(of recreational walking) incorporating the use of poles that resemble ski poles to aid movement
Nordic
2
British
/ ˈnɔːdɪk /
adjective
Usage
What is Nordic skiing? Nordic is a classification used to refer to types of skiing, including cross-country skiing and ski jumping. The terms Nordic and Nordic skiing are used in contrast with Alpine and Alpine skiing, which refer to what’s sometimes also called downhill skiing. Alpine events include the downhill, the slalom, the giant slalom, and the super giant slalom (popularly called Super G). Both nordic and alpine are sometimes left uncapitalized. There are multiple Nordic events in the Winter Olympics, including multiple events in both ski jumping (Normal Hill and Large Hill) and cross-country skiing (including sprints and longer distance races, such as the one known as Skiathlon). The event called Nordic Combined features both cross-country skiing and ski jumping. There are also Nordic skiing events in the Paralympic Winter Games. The skis used in Nordic skiing differ from those used in Alpine skiing in shape, size, and structure. Example: Alpine skiing gets a lot of attention during the Olympics, but the Nordic events are also very exciting to watch.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Nordic
1895–1900; < French nordique, equivalent to nord north + -ique -ic
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.
See Examples For:
He says Germany aims to provide the “strategic glue” aligning the Baltic, Nordic and eastern front-line states with the rest of Europe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
The new, twice-daily journey to Sweden's Haparanda takes 100-minutes as it hugs the west coast of Finland before crossing the border between the two Nordic neighbours.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Customers can experience the brand’s latest technology in a setting inspired by Nordic design and Southern California living.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Contemplating the changes, Risk pulled up on her phone a century-old black-and-white photo of her Nordic kin in Flathead County.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
“And we want him to be big and strong. We’re learning about mythology in school. I think we should name the skunk after the biggest, strongest Nordic god. We should name him Thor.”
From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold
Despite those tasting notes, the little jars of broccoli juice are already in wide circulation among the European teams that dominate nordic skiing, barely a year since becoming commercially available.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
He backpacks and bikes and, in the winter, enjoys nordic skiing, even though he battles Raynaud’s syndrome.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 23, 2024
By her estimation, the last truly stellar Nooksack nordic ski season was in 2006.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2023
Those conditions are unkind to the Nooksack nordic ski trails.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2023
Instead of the nordic hearth there is the courtyard about which the women sit while the men are away at the marketplace.
From Rosinante to the Road Again by John Dos Passos
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.
