savanna

noun

sa·​van·​na sə-ˈva-nə How to pronounce savanna (audio)
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
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.
Disney World: Both Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon will be open this summer Cast members monitored Tucker’s actions with other savanna residents such as zebras, sable antelopes and springbok. Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025 The study, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, shares several key findings that demonstrate how African savanna elephants move through challenging landscapes. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025 Below, five African adventures—from the deep jungles of Congo to the museums of Benin—that take you far beyond the savanna. Chris Schalkx, Robb Report, 15 May 2025 For the recent study, Rubenstein and his colleagues collected behavioral and genetic information on nine flocks of superb starlings living in East African savannas across 40 breeding seasons, from 2002 to 2021. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for savanna

Word History

Etymology

Spanish zavana, from Taino zabana

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of savanna was in 1555

Cite this Entry

“Savanna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savanna. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

savanna

noun
sa·​van·​na
variants also savannah
: a grassland (as of eastern Africa or northern South America) containing scattered trees

More from Merriam-Webster on savanna

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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