Caribbean

American  

[kar-uh-bee-uhn, kuh-rib-ee-] / ˌkær əˈbi ən, kəˈrɪb i- /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

1. 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

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

• inter-Caribbean adjective

Etymology

Origin of Caribbean

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

At that point the company was already selling internationally, supplying customers across Latin America, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean via an export office in New York.

From The Wall Street Journal

One minute we are raging against the perils of A.I., and the next, docilely accepting Gemini’s take on the best Caribbean vacation.

From The Wall Street Journal

That October, intelligence agents transported the oil executives from the Helicoide jail in Caracas to an airstrip on a tiny Caribbean island in the Grenadines.

From The Wall Street Journal

Similar global events spanned 16 countries including Mexico, the Caribbean, Ecuador, Kenya, Australia and most of Europe.

From Salon

Two boats filled with humanitarian supplies travelling from Mexico to Cuba have been located days after contact with them was lost in the Caribbean, organisers say.

From BBC