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noun Uncommon

Viking

VEYE-kihng
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Viking (noun) means a Scandinavian seafarer of the 8th to 11th centuries, especially one who raided or traded across Europe. Example: “The museum's new exhibit features an actual Viking longship.”

noun
1
A Scandinavian seafarer of the 8th to 11th centuries, especially one who raided or traded across Europe.
"The museum's new exhibit features an actual Viking longship."
"Vikings settled parts of England, Ireland, and even Newfoundland."
2
A stock fantasy or pop-culture character type: a burly warrior with an axe and a horned helmet.
"He dressed up as a viking for the medieval fair, horned helmet and all."

How to use Viking

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA Scandinavian raider or seafarer from the early medieval period — or the popular, horned-helmet image of one (which is actually historically inaccurate).

Common mistake

Real Vikings didn't wear horned helmets — that image is a 19th-century invention, not historical fact.

Common pairings
Viking raid Viking longship Viking Age
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Word forms

Plural
Vikings
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The museum's new exhibit features an actual _____ longship.

Etymology

From Old Norse víkingr, itself from vík ("inlet, bay") plus a suffix meaning "one belonging to" — roughly, "one who raids from the inlets."

Origin: Old Norse

Synonyms

View more →
norseman raider seafarer marauder

Related words

jack Norwegian pirate sailor tar predator robber spoiler

Rhymes for Viking

liking hiking biking spiking striking hitchhiking
See all rhymes for Viking →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Viking” mean?
The word “Viking” means a Scandinavian seafarer of the 8th to 11th centuries, especially one who raided or traded across Europe. In plain terms, a Scandinavian raider or seafarer from the early medieval period — or the popular, horned-helmet image of one (which is actually historically inaccurate).
How do you pronounce “Viking”?
“Viking” is pronounced VEYE-kihng (/ˈvaɪkɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Viking” in a sentence?
Here is “Viking” used in a sentence: “The museum's new exhibit features an actual Viking longship.”
What part of speech is “Viking”?
“Viking” is a noun.
Where does the word “Viking” come from?
The word “Viking” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse víkingr, itself from vík ("inlet, bay") plus a suffix meaning "one belonging to" — roughly, "one who raids from the inlets.".
Is “Viking” a common word?
“Viking” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Viking” have?
“Viking” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Scandinavian seafarer of the 8th to 11th centuries, especially one who raided or traded across Europe.
What is the difference between the historical Vikings and the pop-culture image of a Viking?
The historical Vikings were Scandinavian seafarers of the 8th to 11th centuries who raided or traded across Europe, while the pop-culture image is a stock fantasy character type, a burly warrior with an axe and a horned helmet. The horned helmet in particular is a popular invention rather than something worn by actual Viking-age warriors.
Were all Vikings raiders?
No, the term covers Scandinavian seafarers who raided or traded across Europe, meaning trading was as much a part of Viking activity as raiding.
When were the Vikings active?
The Vikings were active from the 8th to 11th centuries, a period often called the Viking Age.

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Vocabulary lists that include Viking:

Words with old Norse origins Words that start with V

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