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

Somaliland, a semidesert territory inside internationally recognized Somali borders, lies just south of the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait that connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

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