Siberia

American  

[sahy-beer-ee-uh] / saɪˈbɪər i ə /

noun

1. Russian Sibir.  an extensive region in the Russian Federation in N Asia, extending from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific.

2. any undesirable or isolated locale, job, etc., to which one is assigned as punishment, a mark of disfavor, or the like.

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Siberia British  

/ saɪˈbɪərɪə /

noun

1. a vast region of Russia and N Kazakhstan: extends from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific and from the Arctic Ocean to the borders with China and Mongolia; colonized after the building of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Area: 13 807 037 sq km (5 330 896 sq miles)

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Siberia Cultural  

1. Region of Russia stretching from north-central to northeastern Asia.

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Discover More

As a consequence of Siberia's harsh conditions and its historical function as a place of punishment, to be “sent to Siberia” has become a metaphor for demotion, disgrace, or other forms of status diminution.

Known for its vast space, long and severely cold winters, and few inhabitants widely scattered in small settlements, Siberia has been for many centuries a place of political and criminal exile for Russians who anger the government's authorities.

Other Word Forms

• Siberian adjective
• trans-Siberian adjective

Example Sentences

Two senior doctors have been arrested in Russia following the deaths of nine babies in a maternity hospital in Siberia this month.

From BBC

In 2008, when a global financial crisis delayed plans to push through Siberia after crossing the Bering Strait two years earlier, he returned to Mexico and made it his temporary home.

From BBC

It was a very cold day in Siberia.

From The Wall Street Journal

They have taken advantage of the long summer days in Siberia, or Mongolia, feasting on bugs and berries.

From BBC

While many of the questions were benign, including several from children, from a one reporter from Yakutia in north-eastern Siberia highlighted a tenfold increase in energy prices in the past four years.

From BBC

Related Words

• oblivion