Valhalla
noun
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In Norse mythology, the souls of warriors who died nobly in battle were brought to a magnificent palace, where they spent their days fighting for diversion, immune from lasting injury, and their evenings lustily feasting on freshly killed boar and quaffing the free-flowing mead. In Old Norse, the word for this warrior heaven is Valhǫll (literally, "hall of the slain"); in German, it is Walhalla. English speakers picked up the name as Valhalla in the 18th century. Nowadays, we can use the word figuratively, and induction or admission into a modern-day Valhalla doesn't require passing from this life. It can be a place of honor (a hall of fame, for example) or a place of bliss (as in "an ice cream lover's Valhalla").
Examples of Valhalla in a Sentence
Brody Miller, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025
Or an all-electric version of the Valhalla, Aston’s first hybrid supercar.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2025
The 27-year-old finished third at the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
—Troy Finnegan, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025
The same day, Valhalla High School and Canyon Crest Academy will host the Division 2 and Division 3 finals, respectively.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Valhalla
Cite this Entry
“Valhalla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Valhalla. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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Valhalla
noun
derived from an early Norse word Valhǫll, literally "hall of the slain," from valr "those slain (in battle)" and hǫll "hall"
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