What does fiord mean?
A fiord is a long, narrow arm of the sea that cuts inland between steep walls of rock, formed when a glacier carved out a valley that was later submerged as the ice melted and sea levels rose. The word is an alternative spelling of the more common 'fjord', though it remains the preferred form in New Zealand, whose dramatic Fiordland region showcases some of the world's finest examples. Classic fiords are found in Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Alaska, Chile, and the South Island of New Zealand, where their deep, cold waters and towering cliff faces create some of the most striking landscapes on Earth. Because they are products of glacial action, fiords are typically deepest toward their inner ends and often shallower at their mouths, where a sill of rock left by the retreating ice partially blocks the entrance. For readers and travellers alike, the word evokes wild northern scenery and the immense sculpting power of ancient ice.
nounA long, narrow inlet of the sea with steep sides or cliffs, formed by the submergence of a glaciated valley; a variant spelling of 'fjord'.
- A long, narrow sea inlet bounded by steep cliffs, formed by glacial erosion of a valley later flooded by the sea.
"The ship threaded its way deep into the fiord, past sheer cliffs that rose a thousand metres from the water."
"The cruise ship glided slowly up the fiord beneath walls of dark granite."
"Glaciers carved the fiords of New Zealand's South Island during the last ice age."
Regular plural; also commonly rendered 'fjords' when using the alternate spelling.
"The western coast is indented with countless fiords."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fiord
The word comes from Norwegian fjord (formerly spelled fiord), from Old Norse fjǫrðr, meaning a place one passes over or an inlet. It is related to the verb fara ('to go, travel'), sharing an Indo-European root with English 'fare' and 'ferry'. The term entered English in the seventeenth to eighteenth centuries as travellers described the Norwegian coast, with 'fiord' being the earlier anglicised spelling before 'fjord' became dominant.
How fiord is actually used
'Fiord' is chiefly a British spelling variant and is the standard spelling used in New Zealand for the country's southern inlets (e.g., Fiordland); 'fjord' predominates elsewhere. The two spellings refer to exactly the same landform.
Easily confused with fiord
'Fiord' is simply an alternative spelling of 'fjord', which is now the more common form in most English dictionaries and usage.
A sound can be a similar coastal inlet, but it may be formed by river erosion or flooding of a river valley, whereas a fiord is specifically carved by a glacier.