glacier

noun

gla·cier ˈglā-shər

also

-zhər

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.

This included landings on untouched white sand beaches, in the shadow of immense glaciers, with ice floes drifting quietly offshore. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026 Meltwater from the mountain’s glaciers and thawing permafrost flows down through ancient channels, fueling the great rivers and soaking into these sprawling boglands. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 Explore its waterfalls, glaciers and volcanic landscapes, and treat any aurora sightings as an extraordinary bonus. — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The study projects that the glacier could add up to 30 millimeters to global sea levels by 2100, even without further climate warming. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 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

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

glaciation

glacier

Glacier Bay

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Glacier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacier. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

glacier

noun

gla·cier ˈglā-shər

: a large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface

glacier

noun

Examples of glacier in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on glacier

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes