variants
or less commonly savannah
1
: a treeless plain especially in Florida
2
a
: a tropical or subtropical grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees and drought-resistant undergrowth
b
: a temperate grassland with scattered trees (such as oaks)
Examples of savanna in a Sentence
lions roaming the savanna
Recent Examples on the Web
Disney had people stationed across the savanna for Tucker’s protection.
—
Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025
More than 30 percent of the biomass in such savannas gets consumed by termites hollowing out trunks from within, according to research by Zanne, a co-author of an article on deadwood and the carbon cycle in the 2024 Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
In the 20th century, after scientists found many fossils and stone tools in East African savannas, many researchers concluded that our species was especially adapted to life in grasslands and open woodlands, where humans could hunt great herds of mammals.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Softer, flowing locks evolved only after humans spread from the African savanna to more moderate climates.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for savanna
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.
Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025
More than 30 percent of the biomass in such savannas gets consumed by termites hollowing out trunks from within, according to research by Zanne, a co-author of an article on deadwood and the carbon cycle in the 2024 Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics.
—Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
In the 20th century, after scientists found many fossils and stone tools in East African savannas, many researchers concluded that our species was especially adapted to life in grasslands and open woodlands, where humans could hunt great herds of mammals.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Softer, flowing locks evolved only after humans spread from the African savanna to more moderate climates.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for savanna
Cite this Entry
“Savanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savanna. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
savanna
noun
sa·van·na
variants
also savannah
: a grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share