typhoon

American  

[tahy-foon] / taɪˈfun /

noun

typhoons plural

1. Meteorology. a tropical cyclone in the western Pacific Ocean or northern Indian Ocean, having sustained winds of at least 64 knots (74 miles per hour, 33 meters per second): typhoons form in waters with surface temperatures of about 80°F (27°C), intensifying as temperatures rise.

2. Military. Typhoon,

   1. a single-engine British ground attack aircraft of World War II.

   2. NATO's name for a class of nuclear-powered Soviet ballistic missile submarine carrying 20 multiwarhead missiles.

---

typhoon British  

/ taɪˈfɒnɪk, taɪˈfuːn /

noun

1. a violent tropical storm or cyclone, esp in the China seas and W Pacific

2. a violent storm of India

---

typhoon Scientific  

/ tī-fo̅o̅n′ /

1. A violent cyclonic storm occurring in the western Pacific Ocean.

2. See Note at cyclone

---

typhoon Cultural  

1. In meteorology, a type of cyclone occurring in the western regions of the Pacific Ocean.

---

Usage

What’s the difference between a typhoon, a hurricane, and a cyclone? Typhoon, hurricane, and cyclone are all terms for big storms. Although the word cyclone is often used to refer to a big storm, it is, technically speaking, a large-scale, atmospheric wind-and-pressure system characterized by low pressure at its center and by circular wind motion. Because these generally produce clouds and precipitation, cyclones are often simply referred to as storms. When such storms form around the tropics, they are called tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones are classified based on their strength. They may start as tropical depressions and progress to tropical storms. The most severe tropical cyclones—those with winds of 74 mph (119 k/mh) or more—are called hurricanes or typhoons. Which term is used depends on where the storm occurs. Generally, storms that form over the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico are called hurricanes, while those that form over the Pacific Ocean are called typhoons. (The word hurricane is sometimes used for storms that form over the eastern or central North Pacific Ocean.)Cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. In casual use, the word cyclone is sometimes used to refer to a tornado (but it is not used this way in scientific contexts). Here’s an example of typhoon, hurricane, and cyclone used correctly in a sentence. Example: There have been many devastating cyclones this season, including a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and multiple typhoons in the Pacific. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones.

Discover More

A typhoon is similar to a hurricane in levels of destructiveness.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• typhonic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• typhoons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of typhoon

First recorded in 1580–90; alteration (influenced by Greek tȳphôn “violent wind, whirlwind”) of earlier touffon, tufan, from Arabic ṭūfān “hurricane, deluge” (perhaps from Greek tȳphôn ), from dialectal Chinese (Guangdong) taaî fung, equivalent to Chinese dàfēng “great wind”

Compare meaning

How does typhoon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• typhoon vs. hurricane
• typhoon vs. tsunami
• typhoon vs. cyclone

Explanation

A typhoon is a giant, rotating storm that brings wind, rain, and destruction. Hurricanes and typhoons are both kinds of tropical cyclones. So if you see one coming, watch out! One thing that makes typhoons like hurricanes—aside from intense weather—is that we give them names. Why? That's a discussion for another day. If you're having a hard time recalling the meaning of typhoon, try this silliness: "The typhoon knocked out all the power. I cannot use the telephoon." You can also remind yourself that typhoon rhymes with another form of harsh weather, the monsoon.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

typhoon typhoons

The typhoon is the strongest to make landfall in China in 2026 to date, according to state media.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

More than 14,000 people in Taiwan have fled their homes, and many shops remain closed, as a typhoon pounding Japan's remote southwestern islands swept towards China on Saturday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

"Conditions on Ishigaki gale force with some overnight gusts to typhoon strength."

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

Though it has weakened to a Category 1 typhoon, it still presents a risk because of the huge volume of moisture within its rain bands.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

But before it got there, a great typhoon roared out of the Pacific and sank every ship.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac

The NWS considers super typhoons to have the equivalent destructive potential as a category four or five hurricane.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

"Two super typhoons in two months, in the same year, is a historic event," he said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

These layers offer abundant information about environmental changes, allowing researchers to reconstruct extreme weather events such as typhoons and conduct research into ancient climate patterns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

Taiwan regularly experiences typhoons during the summer, while winter monsoon seasons bring large waves and colder waters.

From Science Daily ● May 27, 2026

If the land floods during typhoons, villagers help their neighbors by hoisting the house onto their shoulders with wooden poles and walking it to its next spot.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio

Related Words

• hurricane
• tropical cyclone
• tropical storm