steppe

noun

1
: one of the vast usually level and treeless tracts in southeastern Europe or Asia
2
: arid land with xerophilous vegetation found usually in regions of extreme temperature range and loess soil

Examples of steppe in a Sentence

nomads have long grazed yaks on the steppes of Mongolia
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 new study presents strong genetic evidence linking Indo-European origins to the steppe. Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025 But what exactly is that? Steppe ancestry refers to the Pontic-Caspian steppes located north of the Black and Caspian Seas. Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025 Many southerners think the Watford Gap motorway service station — which is confusingly 60 miles north of Watford, a town just north west of London — is the true gateway to the frozen steppes beyond. Matt Slater, The Athletic, 4 Feb. 2025 During this era, eastern Iranian farmers called the Sogdians dominated Central Asian trade and cities like Samarkand, while Turkic herders from the eastern steppes were thought to live on the periphery. Byandrew Lawler, science.org, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for steppe 

Word History

Etymology

Russian step'

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of steppe was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near steppe

Cite this Entry

“Steppe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steppe. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

steppe

noun
: land in regions of wide temperature range (as in southeastern Europe and parts of Asia) that is dry, usually rather level, and covered with grass

More from Merriam-Webster on steppe

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