Malawi

American  

[muh-lah-wee] / məˈlɑ wi /

noun

1. Formerly Nyasaland.  a republic in southeastern Africa, on the western and southern shores of Lake Malawi: formerly a British protectorate and part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland; gained independence July 6, 1964; a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 49,177 sq. mi. (127,368 sq. km). Lilongwe.

2. Formerly Nyasa,.  Formerly Nyassa.  Lake Malawi, a lake in southeastern Africa, between Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique. About 11,000 sq. mi. (28,500 sq. km).

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Malawi British  

/ məˈlɑːwɪ /

noun

1. Former name: Nyasaland.  a republic in E central Africa: established as a British protectorate in 1891; became independent in 1964 and a republic, within the Commonwealth, in 1966; lies along the Great Rift Valley, with Lake Nyasa (Malawi) along the E border, the Nyika Plateau in the northwest, and the Shire (or Shiré) Highlands in the southeast. Official language: Chichewa; English and various other Bantu languages are also widely spoken. Religion: Christian majority, Muslim, and animist minorities. Currency: kwacha. Capital: Lilongwe. Pop: 16 777 547 (2013 est). Area: 118 484 sq km (45 747 sq miles)

2. the Malawi name for (Lake) Nyasa

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Malawi Cultural  

1. Republic in southeast Africa, bordered by Tanzania to the north, Mozambique to the east and south, and Zambia to the west. It became independent in 1964.

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Other Word Forms

• Malawian adjective

Example Sentences

A Malawi High Court has dismissed a wrongful‑termination case against US pop star Madonna brought by the sister of a former president, in one of the country's longest-running NGO disputes.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

Boniface Nkoma, a 48-year-old farmer on the Malawi side of the border, was biking home from market, carrying a sack of corn, when he crossed paths with four elephants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

These samples came from earlier excavations in Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa, regions known for early human activity.

From Science Daily • Jan. 3, 2026

In Malawi the country's former leader, Peter Mutharika, won back the presidency after a period in opposition.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

He demanded that every trader in Malawi hang his picture in his shop, and no other photo could dare hang higher.

From "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba