semidesert

American  

[sem-ee-dez-ert, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm iˈdɛz ərt, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

noun

1. an extremely dry area characterized by sparse vegetation.

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Etymology

Origin of semidesert

First recorded in 1840–50; semi- + desert ¹

Example Sentences

The shift shows how Russia’s influence across the Sahel, the semidesert band stretching across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and beyond, is receding after the years when Prigozhin was one of the most powerful figures there.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 29, 2025

Because of the semidesert landscape, the trees that grow here are small and twisted, so reed mats packed with mud serve as walls and cooking surfaces.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2022

Today, water recycling, desalination and drip irrigation, among other tools, have all helped turn the semidesert country into one with a water surplus.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2022

At the valley’s southernmost tip, which is surrounded by a shrub-steppe semidesert and is one of Canada’s hottest spots, conditions are ideal for reds such as syrahs and merlots.

From Washington Post • Nov. 24, 2021

Large areas of the former Fertile Crescent are now desert, semidesert, steppe, or heavily eroded or salinized terrain unsuited for agriculture.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond