Illustration of atoll
: a coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon
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If you are lucky enough to sail south and west of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, you'll find the Maldives, a group of about 1,200 coral islands and sandbanks that form the Republic of Maldives. Many islands in that independent nation demonstrate the archetypal atoll, and geographers often use them to point out the characteristic features of such coral islands. Given how prevalent atolls are there, it isn't surprising that atoll comes from the name for that kind of island in Divehi, the official language of the Maldives.
Examples of atoll in a Sentence
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The resort's buildings are not exactly new; Le Méridien Bora Bora used to sit on this plot of the atoll, but following an extensive renovation and rebrand, as of September 2024, The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa offers a completely new experience.
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Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025
Life on Aldabra atoll, on the western fringe of the Indian Ocean, moves at the pace of its oldest inhabitants.
—Kevin Gepford, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
Objections from the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), however, may hinder plans for the new landing pads on the South Pacific atoll.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Subi Reef The other atoll featured in the Philippine footage, Subi Reef—with its military base and nearly 10,000-foot airstrip—is also a point of contention between the two neighbors.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
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Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025
Life on Aldabra atoll, on the western fringe of the Indian Ocean, moves at the pace of its oldest inhabitants.
—Kevin Gepford, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
Objections from the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), however, may hinder plans for the new landing pads on the South Pacific atoll.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Subi Reef The other atoll featured in the Philippine footage, Subi Reef—with its military base and nearly 10,000-foot airstrip—is also a point of contention between the two neighbors.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for atoll
Cite this Entry
“Atoll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atoll. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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