arctic

1 of 2

adjective

arc·​tic ˈärk-tik  ˈär-tik 

1

often Arctic : of, relating to, or suitable for use at the North Pole or the region near it

arctic waters

arctic animals

arctic clothing

2

a

: bitter cold : frigid

arctic air

b

: cold in temper or mood

an arctic smile

arctically

ˈärk-ti-k(ə-)lē, 

ˈär-ti- 

adverb

arctic

2 of 2

noun

arc·​tic ˈär-tik  ˈärk-tik 

: a rubber overshoe reaching to the ankle or above

Synonyms of arctic

Adjective

• icy
• freezing
• frigid
• cold
• chilly
• chill
• cool
• polar

Examples of arctic in a Sentence

Adjective

The group is involved in Arctic exploration.

the arctic air of deep winter

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

That was the conclusion of a study published late last year in the ICES Journal of Marine Science that examined decades worth of data on the population sizes, births and deaths of gray whales and the biomass of Arctic crustaceans. — Ainslie Cruickshank, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2026

The first Chinese cargo ship traveling along the Northern Sea Route is set to dock in England this week, reflecting Beijing’s growing Arctic ambitions, though analysts cast doubt on the venture’s commercial feasibility. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Noun

There are more than 21,000 chemicals classified as PFAS, and the compounds are so widely used in consumer products and other materials that they have been detected in the surface snow in the arctic and the placenta of pregnant humans. — Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 7 Aug. 2026

Cerveny said this means that warm air from the tropics and subtropics moves northward over the western half of the country (making the Southwest hot) and cold air pours south from the arctic into the eastern half of the country (making the East cold). — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English artik, from Latin arcticus, from Greek arktikos, from arktos bear, Ursa Major, north; akin to Latin ursus bear, Sanskrit ṛkṣa

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1868, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing arctic

• arctic char
• arctic circle
• arctic fox
• arctic hare
• arctic tern

Rhymes for arctic

• antarctic
• holarctic
• subarctic
• palaearctic
• palearctic
• subantarctic

Kids Definition

arctic

1 of 2 adjective

arc·​tic ˈärk-tik  ˈärt-ik 

1

often capitalized : of, relating to, or suitable for use at the north pole or the region around it

arctic waters

arctic animals

arctic clothing

2

: very cold : frigid

arctic

2 of 2 noun

arc·​tic ˈärt-ik  ˈärk-tik 

: a rubber overshoe : galosh

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English artik "arctic," derived from Greek arktikos "arctic," from Arktos "the Bear," name of the most easily recognizable constellation near the north pole of the sky