Victoria Falls

American  

plural noun

1. falls of the Zambezi River in southern Africa, between Zambia and Zimbabwe, near Livingstone. 420 feet (130 meters) high; more than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) wide.

2. former name of Iguassú Falls.

---

Victoria Falls British  

plural noun

1. Local name: Mosi-oa-Tunya.  a major waterfall on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, on the Zambezi River. Height: about 108 m (355 ft). Width: about 1400 m (4500 ft)

---

Etymology

Origin of Victoria Falls

First recorded in 1855–60; named by David Livingstone in honor of Queen Victoria

Compare meaning

How does victoria-falls compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Victoria Falls vs. Niagara Falls

Example Sentences

In Zambia, Speed plunged in the Devil's Pool on the very edge of the Mosi-oa-Tunya, or Victoria Falls, and rapped with Zambian hip-hop pioneer Slapdee.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2026

"It was very quick," says Chris Foggin, a veterinarian with Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust who examined the elephant carcasses in Zimbabwe.

From National Geographic • Dec. 5, 2023

Starting Monday, Zimbabwe is selling one-ounce, 22-carat gold coins bearing an image of Victoria Falls, its world-famous natural wonder.

From Washington Post • Jul. 25, 2022

Ronald Leon Johnson was arrested Feb. 15 as he checked in at Robert Mugabe Airport in the capital, Harare, for a flight to the tourist town of Victoria Falls, The Herald newspaper reported.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2022

I touched each of the familiar pictures taped there: the Grand Canyon, the Milky Way, Victoria Falls, Table Mountain.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon