Mauritius

[ maw-rish-uhs, -rish-ee-uhs ]

noun

1. an island in the Indian Ocean, E of Madagascar. 720 sq. mi. (1,865 sq. km).
2. a republic consisting of this island and dependencies: formerly a British colony. 809 sq. mi. (2,095 sq. km). : Port Louis.

Mauritius

/ məˈrɪʃəs /

noun

1. an island and state in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar: originally uninhabited, it was settled by the Dutch (1638–1710) then abandoned; taken by the French in 1715 and the British in 1810; became an independent member of the Commonwealth in 1968. It is economically dependent on sugar. Official language: English; a French creole is widely spoken. Religion: Hindu majority, large Christian minority. Currency: rupee. Capital: Port Louis. Pop: 1 322 238 (2013 est). Area: 1865 sq km (720 sq miles) Former name (1715–1810)Île-de-France

Other Words From

• Mau·ritian adjective

Example Sentences

So when the chance came he leapt at a last-minute opportunity to play last December’s Mauritius Open.

From BBC

The prime minister of Mauritius has accepted that his coalition, L'Alliance Lepep, has suffered a "huge defeat" following Sunday's parliamentary election.

From BBC

The International Institute for Strategic Studies refers to the facility as a “surveillance station” and says it is likely to contain a coastal radar surveillance system similar to Indian-built equipment elsewhere in Mauritius.

From BBC

The deal followed decades of often fractious negotiations between the UK and Mauritius over sovereignty of the archipelago, but has faced a backlash from several senior Conservative MPs.

From BBC

The Labour government’s decision last week to hand sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius prompted fierce criticism from the Conservatives and concerns about the future of the UK's other overseas territories.

From BBC