archipelago
Americannoun
plural
archipelagos, archipelagoes-
a large group or chain of islands.
the Malay Archipelago.
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any large body of water with many islands.
-
the Archipelago, the Aegean Sea.
noun
-
a group of islands
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a sea studded with islands
-
A large group of islands.
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A sea, such as the Aegean, or an area in a sea containing a large number of scattered islands.
Other Word Forms
- archipelagian adjective
- archipelagic adjective
Etymology
Origin of archipelago
1495–1505; alteration ( archi- for arci- ) of Italian arcipelago, alteration of Egeopelago the Aegean Sea < Greek Aigaîon pélagos
Explanation
Now here's a word, archipelago, that is super-specific: it means a group of many islands. Wouldn't it be great to build your dream house in the Galapagos archipelago? It seems that archipelago came from the Italian Arciplago, the name for the Aegean Sea, which is full of many many islands. Somehow that became the word for any sea that is chock-full of islands. You can also use archipelago to indicate some other grouping that involves neither islands nor water but is similar to them. Your little sister might create an archipelago of Lego buildings on your living room carpet.
Vocabulary lists containing archipelago
Play by the Rules: Arch
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Language Gone Wrong: Words That Started Out as Errors
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Physical Geography - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice recommended that Britain hand the archipelago to Mauritius.
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
Japan has installed missiles, radar, garrisons and electronic-warfare systems on the islands to protect the archipelago amid intensifying Chinese military activity in the East China Sea and—potentially—to play a role in any defense of Taiwan.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026
In a phone call with Lammy last December, Muizzu warned the deputy UK prime minister that "any transfer of the archipelago must account for Maldivian interests".
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
Heavy rains continued to fall on the archipelago in the early hours of Saturday morning.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
They peered over the bridge and saw the Antarctic archipelago at their feet, craned their necks and saw a giant metal star overhead.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
