rain shadow

noun

: a region of reduced rainfall on the lee side of high mountains

Examples of rain shadow in a Sentence

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 Atacama Desert in northern Chile sits in the rain shadow of the Andes Mountains. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 20 Feb. 2025 The lower totals in the valleys are a result of the rain shadow effect, where outlying mountain ranges keep storm clouds from bringing their full effect overhead Gass said. Austin Turner, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2024 Hidden in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, Mustang borders the Tibetan Plateau and has a distinctive, windswept red-desert landscape. Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2023 On islands such as Maui, where a volcanic spine runs down the middle of the island, the eastern flanks are generally moist and lush — while the western slopes are in a rain shadow and typically drier. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2023 See All Example Sentences for rain shadow

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rain shadow was in 1896

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Rain shadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rain%20shadow. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.

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!