name
Uncommon
Chernobyl
chur-NO-buhl
Chernobyl (name) means a city in northern Ukraine, largely abandoned since the 1986 nuclear disaster there. Example: “Tourists can now visit the exclusion zone around Chernobyl.”
name
1
A city in northern Ukraine, largely abandoned since the 1986 nuclear disaster there.
"Tourists can now visit the exclusion zone around Chernobyl."
2
The 1986 nuclear accident and its aftermath.
"The show dramatized the events of Chernobyl in gripping detail."
noun
1
By extension, any disastrous nuclear accident.
"Critics warned the ageing reactor could become "the next Chernobyl"."
How to use Chernobyl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBest known as the site of the world's worst nuclear power plant disaster; sometimes used generically for any catastrophic nuclear accident.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Chernobyls
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Tourists can now visit the exclusion zone around _____.
Etymology
From Russian Černóbylʹ, ultimately from a word for "mugwort" or "wormwood".
Frequently asked questions
What does “Chernobyl” mean?
The word “Chernobyl” means a city in northern Ukraine, largely abandoned since the 1986 nuclear disaster there. In plain terms, best known as the site of the world's worst nuclear power plant disaster; sometimes used generically for any catastrophic nuclear accident.
How do you pronounce “Chernobyl”?
“Chernobyl” is pronounced chur-NO-buhl (/t͡ʃɚˈnoʊbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “Chernobyl” in a sentence?
Here is “Chernobyl” used in a sentence: “Tourists can now visit the exclusion zone around Chernobyl.”
What part of speech is “Chernobyl”?
Depending on how it is used, “Chernobyl” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Chernobyl” come from?
The word “Chernobyl” comes from Russian. From Russian Černóbylʹ, ultimately from a word for "mugwort" or "wormwood".
Is “Chernobyl” a common word?
“Chernobyl” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Chernobyl” have?
“Chernobyl” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a city in northern Ukraine, largely abandoned since the 1986 nuclear disaster there.
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