glacier

noun

gla·​cier ˈglā-shər How to pronounce glacier (audio)
also
-zhər How to pronounce glacier (audio)
especially British ˈgla-sē-ə
or ˈglā-sē-ə
: a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface

Examples of glacier in a Sentence

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.
The trip was breathtaking, from towering glaciers and misty fjords to wildlife sightings that felt straight out of a nature documentary. Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026 The course itself was a slippery expanse of blue ice and snow, requiring glacier glasses to combat the blinding UV reflection. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026 The serac is part of the Khumbu Icefall, a constantly shifting glacier with deep crevasses and huge overhanging ice that can be as big as 10-story buildings. ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026 Helicopter rides trace The Remarkables mountain range, before landing on glaciers and in hidden valleys. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for glacier

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal), from glace ice, from Latin glacies; akin to Latin gelu frost — more at cold

First Known Use

1744, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glacier was in 1744

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glacier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacier. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

glacier

noun
gla·​cier ˈglā-shər How to pronounce glacier (audio)
: a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface

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