southern ocean: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Geographical, Scientific
Quick answer
What does “southern ocean” mean?
The ocean surrounding Antarctica, defined as the waters south of 60°S latitude.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ocean surrounding Antarctica, defined as the waters south of 60°S latitude.
The body of water encircling the Antarctic continent, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, characterized by strong currents, icebergs, and unique marine ecosystems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'Southern Ocean'. The term 'Antarctic Ocean' is also understood but less formally standard.
Connotations
Neutral geographical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally used in academic and geographical contexts in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “southern ocean” in a Sentence
[PREP] in the Southern Ocean[PREP] of the Southern Ocean[VERB] the Southern OceanVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southern ocean” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Southern Ocean research is vital for climate models.
- They studied Southern Ocean fauna.
American English
- Southern Ocean temperatures are rising.
- A Southern Ocean expedition was launched.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in shipping, logistics, or environmental consulting related to Antarctic regions.
Academic
Common in geography, oceanography, climate science, and environmental studies.
Everyday
Low frequency. Used in general knowledge, documentaries, or news about Antarctica.
Technical
Standard term in marine science, navigation, and international law (e.g., CCAMLR).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southern ocean”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southern ocean”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southern ocean”
- Using lower case ('southern ocean') in formal writing. Confusing it with the South Atlantic/Pacific/Indian Oceans.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It was officially recognized as the world's fifth ocean by the International Hydrographic Organization in 2000, though some maps and texts may still omit it.
Its northern boundary is generally defined as 60°S latitude, where it meets the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Its southern boundary is the Antarctic coastline.
It drives global ocean circulation via the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, influences worldwide climate, and hosts unique ecosystems vulnerable to climate change.
In formal and geographical writing, yes, as it is a proper noun naming a specific place. In informal contexts, it may sometimes appear in lower case.
The ocean surrounding Antarctica, defined as the waters south of 60°S latitude.
Southern ocean is usually formal, geographical, scientific in register.
Southern ocean: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌð.ən ˈəʊ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌð.ɚn ˈoʊ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'South' + 'Ocean' = the ocean at the very bottom of the world, surrounding the frozen continent.
Conceptual Metaphor
The planet's cooling system; the Earth's final frontier.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a synonym for 'Southern Ocean'?