Caribbean

[ kar-uh-bee-uhn, kuh-rib-ee- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the islands or region of the Caribbean Sea, or to its inhabitants.
2. of or relating to the Carib people.

noun

1. the Caribbean Sea.
2. the Caribbean, the islands and countries of the Caribbean Sea collectively.
3. a native or inhabitant of a Caribbean country.
4. a Carib.

Caribbean

/ kəˈrɪbɪən; ˌkærɪˈbiːən /

adjective

1. of, or relating to, the Caribbean Sea and its islands
2. of, or relating to, the Carib or any of their languages

noun

1. the Caribbean
   the states and islands of the Caribbean Sea, including the West Indies, when considered as a geopolitical region
2. short for the Caribbean Sea
3. a member of any of the peoples inhabiting the islands of the Caribbean Sea, such as a West Indian or a Carib

Usage Note

Caribbean is used as a plural noun (a candidate favored by Caribbeans ), but it's relatively rare as a singular noun (the candidate who is a Caribbean ).

Other Word Forms

• in·ter-Car·ib·be·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Caribbean¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from New Latin Carib(b)aeus, adjective formed from New Latin plural noun Caribes, from Spanish and Portuguese singular noun caribe Carib ( def ); cannibal ( def ), caribe ( def )

Example Sentences

They had come from the US, which one expert describes as a "supermarket" feeding an arms race among gangs that have brought chaos to the Caribbean island nation.

From BBC

Concacaf is the governing body of football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

From BBC

The Caribbean nation of Guyana is breathing a sigh of relief after US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on the introduction of higher tariffs on a number of countries.

From BBC

Tragically, Hyacinth is just one of an ever-increasing number of people on the tiny Caribbean island of Antigua to disappear without trace in what some have dubbed an epidemic, others a crisis.

From BBC

Many of last year’s dengue cases were associated with travel to hot, humid places where the virus is commonly spread, such as the Caribbean.

From Los Angeles Times