Canary Islands

American  

plural noun

1. a group of mountainous islands in the Atlantic Ocean, near the NW coast of Africa, comprising two provinces of Spain. 2,894 sq. mi. (7,495 sq. km).

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Canary Islands British  

plural noun

1. a group of mountainous islands in the Atlantic off the NW coast of Africa, forming an Autonomous Community of Spain. Pop: 1 944 700 (2003 est)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Canarian
  adjective

Example Sentences

His trip will end with a focus on migration on Thursday and Friday in the Canary Islands, a key destination for irregular arrivals, with thousands dying in the Atlantic Ocean trying to reach them.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

Now in Spain's Canary Islands, one of the main entry points into Europe for African migrants, he hopes to build a future that will allow him to support his family in Senegal.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

The pope is expected to lay a floral tribute at the port in memory of those who died trying to reach the Canary Islands.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

Only the ship's crew were aboard for the last leg of the journey, as all passengers docked off the ship in the Canary Islands between 10 and 11 May.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Spanish and Portuguese sailors searching for that sea route conquered the Canary Islands and the Azores.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson