Antarctica is an ocean.
Antarctica ( UK English [ ænˈtɑːktɪkə ] or [ ænˈtɑːtɪkə ] , US English [ æntˈɑːrktɪkə ] ) is Earth 's southernmost continent . Antarctica , on average , is the coldest , driest , and windiest continent , and has the highest average elevation of all the continents . A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth .