oceanic

adjective

oce·​an·​ic ˌō-shē-ˈa-nik 

1

a

: of or relating to the ocean

b

: occurring in or frequenting the ocean and especially the open sea as distinguished from littoral or neritic waters

2

: vast, great

3

Oceanic linguistics : relating to, belonging to, or characterizing a subfamily of the Austronesian family of languages that is spoken in Polynesia and most of the islands of Melanesia and Micronesia

Synonyms

• marine
• maritime
• pelagic

Examples of oceanic in a Sentence

the theory that ancient mariners took advantage of oceanic currents to roam the seas on primitive rafts

during his solo crossing of the Atlantic he managed to avoid the fierce oceanic storms that rage in those tropical latitudes

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s made with Baltic gem powder, oceanic enzymes, and glycolic and salicylic acids to smooth texture, battle breakouts, gently scrub away dead skin cells and clear out clogged pores, leaving skin fresh and hydrated. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

While oceanic conditions reflect a brewing La Niña event, sea surface temperatures are near average overall and have not yet reached the La Niña threshold. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024

Down in the stunning, secluded Osa Peninsula, the park contains cloud forests, montane forests, prairies, wetlands, mangroves, and even oceanic habitats. —Brent Rose, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Nov. 2024

As the sensitive Pisces Moon conjoins oceanic Neptune, emotional restraint will probably be scarce. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin Ōceanicus, from Ōceanus "the sea flowing around the land mass of the known world, ocean" + -icus -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing oceanic

• inter-oceanic
• oceanic whitetip
• oceanic white-tipped shark
• oceanic whitetip shark