Madagascar

[ mad-uh-gas-ker ]

noun
  1. an island republic in the Indian Ocean, about 240 miles (385 km) off the southestern coast of Africa: formerly a French colony; gained independence 1960. 227,800 sq. mi. (590,000 sq. km). Capital: Antananarivo.

  • Formerly Mal·a·gas·y Re·pub·lic [mal-uh-gas-ee] /ˌmæl ə ˈgæs i/ .

Other words from Madagascar

  • an·ti-Mad·a·gas·can, adjective, noun
  • Mad·a·gas·can, noun, adjective
  • pro-Mad·a·gas·can, adjective, noun

Words Nearby Madagascar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Madagascar in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Madagascar

Madagascar

/ (ˌmædəˈɡæskə) /


noun
  1. an island republic in the Indian Ocean, off the E coast of Africa: made a French protectorate in 1895; became autonomous in 1958 and fully independent in 1960; contains unique flora and fauna. Languages: Malagasy and French. Religions: animist and Christian. Currency: franc. Capital: Antananarivo. Pop: 22 599 098 (2013 est). Area: 587 041 sq km (266 657 sq miles): Official name (since 1975): Democratic Republic of Madagascar Former name (1958–75): Malagasy Republic

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Madagascar

Madagascar

[ (mad-uh-gas-kuhr) ]


Island republic in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. Its capital and largest city is Antananarivo.

Notes for Madagascar

The island of Madagascar is the fourth largest in the world.

Notes for Madagascar

Madagascar was under French control from the late nineteenth century until 1960, when it gained full independence. Its culture mixes European, African, and South Asian influences.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.