What does typhoon mean?
A typhoon is a powerful tropical cyclone that forms over the western North Pacific Ocean. It is the regional counterpart of a hurricane in the Atlantic and northeastern Pacific and is distinguished from a weaker tropical storm by sustained winds of at least 74 mph (119 km/h). Typhoons can bring torrential rain, destructive winds, storm surges, and flooding across coastal and island regions. The word is used in weather reports, historical accounts, journalism, and literature, often with an emphasis on the storm's force or the disruption it causes. Although the regional boundaries are not absolute, “typhoon” is the established term for such storms in the western North Pacific. The word is also occasionally understood more broadly as a violent storm, especially in figurative or literary contexts.
nounAn intense tropical cyclone forming over the western North Pacific Ocean, with sustained winds of at least 74 mph (119 km/h). In the Atlantic and northeastern Pacific, the equivalent storm is called a hurricane.
- An intense tropical cyclone forming over the western North Pacific Ocean.
"The typhoon made landfall before dawn, bringing destructive winds and flooding to the coast."
"Forecasters warned that the typhoon could bring record rainfall to the region."
"The novel describes a battered ship caught in the path of a typhoon."
Typhoons are countable nouns; the plural refers to more than one storm and is commonly used when reporting several storms in a season or region.
"Several typhoons developed unusually early in the season."
A typhoon gets its name from Chinese words meaning “great wind,” a phrase that reached English through Portuguese.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does typhoon come from?
English borrowed the word through Portuguese tufão, which came from the Chinese expression tai fung, meaning “great wind.” The phrase reflects the long experience of Chinese and Portuguese maritime communities with destructive storms in the western Pacific. The English form became established during the early modern period.
How typhoon is actually used
The term is formal and chiefly meteorological. Typhoon, hurricane, and cyclone describe the same general phenomenon but follow different regional naming conventions.
Easily confused with typhoon
A hurricane and a typhoon are the same type of storm, but the regional name depends on where the storm forms.
Cyclone is a general term for a tropical cyclone in several regions, while typhoon specifically refers to one in the western North Pacific.