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Definition of sierra nevada

sierra nevada

Plural:Sierra Nevadas
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• noun

1

American A major mountain range in western North America, running primarily along the eastern edge of the U.S. state of California, renowned for its dramatic granite peaks, alpine lakes, and distinct national parks such as Yosemite.

2

A mountain range located in the region of Andalusia in southern Spain, known as a popular skiing destination and containing Mulhacén, the highest peak in continental Spain.

Word Nuance & Usage

In American English, the California mountain range is colloquially referred to as 'the Sierras', though geologists and environmentalists often prefer the singular 'the Sierra' because the Spanish word already denotes a plural-like range.

• Nearby Words

sierra leone
sierra leonean
sierra madre
sierra nevada
sierra nevadas
sierras
siesta

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sierra nevada. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sierra-nevada
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