tsunami

noun

tsu·​na·​mi (t)su̇-ˈnä-mē 

plural tsunamis also tsunami

: a great sea wave produced especially by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption : tidal wave

tsunamic

(t)su̇-ˈnä-mik 

adjective

Examples of tsunami in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Trump tariff tsunami is about to hit the economy in ways most of us cannot imagine. —Susan Tompor, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025

In 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami prompted a truce deal between the Indonesian government and local rebels to facilitate relief efforts. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025

Such a tsunami would be unphysical, since no wave can accommodate infinite energy in the real world. —Charlie Wood, Wired News, 6 Apr. 2025

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology confirmed there was no tsunami threat to Australia, Papua New Guinea's closest neighbor. —Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from tsu harbor + nami wave

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tsunami

• salami
• tatami
• thalami
• balmy
• brahmi
• commie
• mommy
• palmy
• rami
• saami
• swami
• swamy

Kids Definition

tsunami

noun

tsu·​na·​mi (t)su̇-ˈnäm-ē 

: a great sea wave produced especially by an earthquake or volcanic eruption under the sea : tidal wave

Etymology

Japanese, from tsu "harbor" + nami "wave"