Viking

American  

[vahy-king] / ˈvaɪ kɪŋ /

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

• Vikings
  plural

1. any of the Scandinavian pirates who plundered the coasts of Europe from the 8th to 10th centuries.

2. a sea-roving bandit; pirate.

3. a Scandinavian.

4. U.S. Aerospace. one of a series of space probes that obtained scientific information about Mars.

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Viking British  

/ ˈvaɪkɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called: Norseman.   Northman.  any of the Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes who raided by sea most of N and W Europe from the 8th to the 11th centuries, later often settling, as in parts of Britain

2. any sea rover, plunderer, or pirate

3. either of two unmanned American spacecraft that reached Mars in 1976

4. (modifier) of, relating to, or characteristic of a Viking or Vikings

   a Viking ship

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Vikings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Viking

1800–10; < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse vīkingr; compare Old English wīcing pirate; etymology disputed

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Viking Vikings

The group last year accused the Libyan coast guard of attacking its Ocean Viking rescue ship in international waters.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

Like Penelope waiting for Odysseus, the owners of another Viking ship used in the film had their patience tested: after the ship incurred damage during a shoot, they had to wait a year for compensation.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

Reminding some of the once viral Techno Viking, Kasper Hogh is already earning rave reviews after recording his first goals - and first hat-trick - for Celtic.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

A group of people were gathered around a large dining table beneath a massive chandelier of antler, a tableau that evoked some kind of Viking summit.

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026

The Wolf Trap was selected along with three other microbiology experiments to go aboard the Viking landers.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

The eras of "The Odyssey" and the Vikings happened about 2,000 years apart -- so how did a Viking longship end up with a starring role in this year's blockbuster movie?

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

Vikings weren’t just “simple, uncivilized, barbaric hordes,” says historian after a huge 1,000-year-old textile production site was discovered.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026

He once made such a ridiculous overtime catch against the Minnesota Vikings that legendary broadcaster Al Michaels couldn’t believe his eyes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026

The 49ers will also face the Minnesota Vikings as the NFL returns to Mexico, while the Baltimore Ravens meet the Dallas Cowboys in the league's first game in Rio de Janeiro.

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

The Gyrfalcons advance against the Phantoms, the Castle Raiders beat the Windwalkers, the Cloud Knights destroy the Sorcerers, and, much to everyone’s surprise, the Zombie Vikings defeat the Sharpshooters.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu