Siberia

[ sahy-beer-ee-uh ]

noun

1. Russian Sibirʾ. an extensive region in the Russian Federation in N Asia, extending from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific.
2. any undesirable or isolated locale, job, etc., to which one is assigned as punishment, a mark of disfavor, or the like.

Siberia

/ saɪˈbɪərɪə /

noun

1. a vast region of Russia and N Kazakhstan: extends from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific and from the Arctic Ocean to the borders with China and Mongolia; colonized after the building of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Area: 13 807 037 sq km (5 330 896 sq miles)

Siberia

1. Region of Russia stretching from north-central to northeastern Asia .

Notes

As a consequence of Siberia's harsh conditions and its historical function as a place of punishment, to be “sent to Siberia” has become a metaphor for demotion, disgrace, or other forms of status diminution.

Known for its vast space, long and severely cold winters, and few inhabitants widely scattered in small settlements, Siberia has been for many centuries a place of political and criminal exile for Russians who anger the government's authorities.

Other Words From

• Si·beri·an adjective noun
• trans-Si·beri·an adjective

Example Sentences

The carcass—containing the head, forelimbs, and front part of the animal—was discovered encased in a chunk of ice in 2020 near the Badyarikha River in northern Siberia, above the Arctic Circle.

From Science Magazine

Moscow deported hundreds of thousands of people from the region to Siberia.

From BBC

He walked north to the coast of Alaska before crossing to Siberia in 2006.

From BBC

The nearest humans have come to this scale of event was the Tunguska event in 1908 when a 50-metre asteroid exploded in the skies above Siberia.

From BBC

I recall a trip to Siberia, where climate change has been melting the permafrost, exposing skeletons, and releasing harmful bacteria and gases.

From BBC

Related Words

• oblivion