semiarid

adjective

semi·​ar·​id ˌse-mē-ˈer-əd How to pronounce semiarid (audio)
-ˈa-rəd,
ˌse-ˌmī-,
-mi-
: characterized by light rainfall
especially : having from about 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 centimeters) of annual precipitation
semiaridity
ˌse-mē-ə-ˈri-də-tē How to pronounce semiarid (audio)
-er-ˈi-
-ˌa-ri-
ˌse-ˌmī-
-mi-
noun

Examples of semiarid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But no other site can match the density of designs found on Mona, a semiarid mesa halfway between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Carina Del Valle Schorske, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 In the Sahel, the semiarid region bordering the Sahara that runs across the African continent, tens of thousands of teenagers have joined militant groups linked to Al Qaeda and Islamic State. Declan Walsh, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2023 In 2021 Ricke modeled aerosol injections over the Indian Ocean meant to increase rainfall and reverse a long-standing drought in the semiarid Sahel region of North Africa. Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023 Not so in Africa, especially in the Sahel, the vast, semiarid region south of the Sahara where groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State are gaining ground at an alarming pace. Elian Peltier, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for semiarid 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semiarid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of semiarid was in 1880

Dictionary Entries Near semiarid

Cite this Entry

“Semiarid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiarid. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

semiarid

adjective
semi·​ar·​id ˌsem-ē-ˈar-əd How to pronounce semiarid (audio)
ˌsem-ˌī-
: marked by light rainfall
especially : having from about 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 centimeters) of annual precipitation

More from Merriam-Webster on semiarid

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