ice age

noun

1
: a time of widespread glaciation
2
capitalized I&A : the Pleistocene glacial epoch

Examples of ice age in a Sentence

changes that occurred during the last ice age
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The dire wolves who roamed the Earth up until the end of the last ice age, may have had the same bone disease that plague cats and dogs today called osteochondrosis. Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2025 The grip of this ice age was loosened only when carbon dioxide began to soar again around 300 million years ago. Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025 The ice field covers 1,500 square miles and dates to the last ice age, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Phil Helsel, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2025 The study also pinpointed a bacterium that plagued these colossal ice age creatures. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ice age

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ice age was in 1855

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ice age.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ice%20age. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

ice age

noun
1
: a time of widespread glaciation
2
capitalized I&A : the most recent such period in the earth's past

More from Merriam-Webster on ice age

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!