Benin

[ be-neen ]

noun

1. Formerly Dahomey. a republic in W Africa: formerly part of French West Africa; gained independence in 1960. 44,290 sq. mi. (114,711 sq. km). : Porto Novo.
2. Bight of, a bay in N Gulf of Guinea in W Africa.
3. a former native kingdom in W Africa: now incorporated into Nigeria.
4. a river in S Nigeria, flowing into the Bight of Benin.

Benin

/ bɛˈniːn /

noun

1. a republic in W Africa, on the Bight of Benin , a section of the Gulf of Guinea: in the early 19th century a powerful kingdom, famed for its women warriors; became a French colony in 1893, gaining independence in 1960. It consists chiefly of coastal lagoons and swamps in the south, a fertile plain and marshes in the centre, and the Atakora Mountains in the northwest. Official language: French. Religion: animist majority. Currency: franc. Capital: Porto Novo (the government is based in Cotonou). Pop: 9 877 292 (2013 est). Area: 112 622 sq km (43 474 sq miles) Former name (until 1975)Dahomey
2. a former kingdom of W Africa, powerful from the 14th to the 17th centuries: now a province of S Nigeria: noted for its bronzes

Example Sentences

It was an area controlled by the powerful kingdom of Benin located in the hinterland north of the delta.

From Quartz

Romuald Hazoumè, the artist, I found him to be, as great artists are, so insightful and revelatory in his work with the oil cans and breaking down the geopolitics between Nigeria and Benin through that artwork.

From Eater

Benin saw its ratings outlook improve after successful eurobond issuances in January.

From Quartz

Today, the app operates in seven cities across Togo and Benin and recently announced a partnership with Singaporean fund manager Asia Africa Investment & Consulting.

From Ozy

Since that 2016 start, it’s treated more than 1,600 babies and has spread from its Nigerian home base to Ghana, Kenya and Benin.

From Ozy

At the Global awards ceremony, musical artists set the crowd on fire, especially Benin singer Angelique Kidjo.

From The Daily Beast

Ledit Sieur homme accort & benin le receut humainement, encores qu'auparavant en l'an 1607.

From Project Gutenberg

Drunami finally returned to Benin, and surrendered to the British authorities.

From Project Gutenberg

As the Lander brothers floated down the stream formed by the union of these two, they soon found themselves in the Bight of Benin.

From Project Gutenberg

A most interesting example of hide appears in the Horniman Museum, taken from the kings palace at Benin in 1897.

From Project Gutenberg

Benin and Omdurman, and other 'cruel habitations,' have been thrown open and broken down.

From Project Gutenberg