typhoon
3 synonyms for typhoon, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A powerful tropical storm that forms over the northwestern Pacific Ocean, equivalent to a hurricane elsewhere.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
tropical storm
tempest
Etymology
The word likely traces back to an Arabic term for a violent storm, itself possibly rooted in a Chinese phrase for "big wind," and was reshaped in English under the influence of an old Greek word for whirlwind.
Full origin of typhoon →Frequently asked questions
What does “typhoon” mean?
The word “typhoon” means a powerful tropical storm that forms over the northwestern Pacific Ocean, equivalent to a hurricane elsewhere. In plain terms, the name used for a hurricane-strength storm when it occurs in the northwest Pacific.
How do you pronounce “typhoon”?
“Typhoon” is pronounced teye-FOON (/taɪˈfun/ in IPA).
How do you use “typhoon” in a sentence?
Here is “typhoon” used in a sentence: “The typhoon knocked out power across the island for days.”
What part of speech is “typhoon”?
“Typhoon” is a noun.
Where does the word “typhoon” come from?
The word “typhoon” comes from Arabic. The word likely traces back to an Arabic term for a violent storm, itself possibly rooted in a Chinese phrase for "big wind," and was reshaped in English under the influence of an old Greek word for whirlwind.
Is “typhoon” a common word?
“Typhoon” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a typhoon and a hurricane?
A typhoon and a hurricane are the same type of storm, a powerful tropical cyclone, but the name depends on where it forms. Typhoon is used for storms over the northwestern Pacific Ocean, while hurricane is used for equivalent storms in the Atlantic and northeastern Pacific.
What is the difference between a typhoon and a cyclone?
Cyclone is the general term used for these storms in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, while typhoon is the specific regional name for the same kind of storm in the northwestern Pacific. All three terms, typhoon, hurricane, and cyclone, describe the same meteorological phenomenon in different regions.
Are typhoons and hurricanes measured on the same scale?
Since a typhoon is equivalent to a hurricane elsewhere, they are generally powerful tropical storms of comparable intensity and structure. Regional weather agencies may use their own naming and category systems, but the underlying storm type is the same.
