adj
Uncommon
Antarctic
an-TAH-tihk
Antarctic (adj) means relating to Antarctica or the region around the South Pole. Example: “The ship sailed through freezing antarctic waters.”
adj
1
Relating to Antarctica or the region around the South Pole.
"The ship sailed through freezing antarctic waters."
name
1
The polar region surrounding the South Pole, including the continent of Antarctica.
"Very few permanent residents live in the Antarctic."
How to use Antarctic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with the far south polar region around Antarctica.
Common mistake
Antarctic is the south polar region; Arctic is the north — easy to mix up.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more Antarctic
- Superlative
- most Antarctic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ship sailed through freezing _____ waters.
Etymology
From Latin antarcticus, from Ancient Greek antarktikos, literally "opposite the Arctic."
Synonyms
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south polar region
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for Antarctic
See all rhymes for Antarctic →Frequently asked questions
What does “Antarctic” mean?
The word “Antarctic” means relating to Antarctica or the region around the South Pole. In plain terms, to do with the far south polar region around Antarctica.
How do you pronounce “Antarctic”?
“Antarctic” is pronounced an-TAH-tihk (/ænˈtɑɹ(k)tɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Antarctic” in a sentence?
Here is “Antarctic” used in a sentence: “The ship sailed through freezing antarctic waters.”
What part of speech is “Antarctic”?
Depending on how it is used, “Antarctic” can be an adjective and a name.
Where does the word “Antarctic” come from?
The word “Antarctic” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin antarcticus, from Ancient Greek antarktikos, literally "opposite the Arctic.".
Is “Antarctic” a common word?
“Antarctic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Antarctic” have?
“Antarctic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Antarctica or the region around the South Pole.
What is the difference between "Antarctic" and "Antarctica"?
"Antarctic" is an adjective or a broader name for the polar region surrounding the South Pole, which includes the continent, surrounding waters, and nearby islands, while "Antarctica" specifically names the continent itself. You can describe something as "Antarctic" without it necessarily being located on the continent of Antarctica, such as Antarctic waters.
Is "Antarctic" capitalized?
When referring to the specific polar region as a proper noun, "Antarctic" is capitalized, as in "the Antarctic." As a general adjective describing something related to that region, such as "antarctic conditions" used loosely to mean extremely cold, it is sometimes lowercased, though capitalizing it is standard and safest.
What is the difference between the "Antarctic" and the "Arctic"?
The Antarctic surrounds the South Pole and includes the continent of Antarctica, while the Arctic surrounds the North Pole and consists mainly of ocean and sea ice rather than a landmass. They are opposite polar regions on the globe.
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