Sabah

American

[sah-bah] / ˈsɑ bɑ /

noun

a state in Malaysia, on the northern tip of Borneo: formerly a British crown colony. 29,347 sq. mi. (76,008 sq. km). Kota Kinabalu.

Sabah British

/ ˈsɑːbɑː /

noun

Former name (until 1963): North Borneo. a state of Malaysia, occupying N Borneo and offshore islands in the South China and Sulu Seas: became a British protectorate in 1888; gained independence and joined Malaysia in 1963. Capital: Kota Kinabalu. Pop: 2 603 485 (2000). Area: 73 620 sq km (28 425 sq miles)

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Then there was Craig Halkett's goal in the first derby of the season, a stoppage-time strike as he slid in to connect with a Sabah Kerjota cross.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

Urea sales should also recover following Sabah plant’s turnaround, though weaker polyethylene prices and new capacity additions in China will continue to pressure the olefins and derivatives division, keeping 2026 outlook challenging, he adds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

Again, there’s a famous song inspired by the story that’s been sung by many of the great Arab singers, such as Fairouz and Sabah.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2024

When she wouldn’t remove it, WWU President Sabah Randhawa fired her.

From Seattle Times • May 18, 2024

Sabah is the country of the North Borneo Company.

From Four Young Explorers or, Sight-Seeing in the Tropics by Shute, A. B.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023