Gambia

American  

[gam-bee-uh] / ˈgæm bi ə /

noun

1. a river in W Africa, flowing W to the Atlantic. 500 miles (800 km) long.

2. The, a republic extending inland along both sides of this river: formerly a British crown colony and protectorate; gained independence 1965; member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 4,003 sq. mi. (10,368 sq. km). Banjul.

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Gambia British  

/ ˈɡæmbɪə /

noun

1. a republic in W Africa, entirely surrounded by Senegal except for an outlet to the Atlantic: sold to English merchants by the Portuguese in 1588; became a British colony in 1843; gained independence and became a member of the Commonwealth in 1965; joined with Senegal to form the Confederation of Senegambia (1982–89); consists of a strip of land about 16 km (10 miles) wide, on both banks of the Gambia River, extending inland for about 480 km (300 miles). Official language: English. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: dalasi. Capital: Banjul. Pop: 1 883 051 (2013 est). Area: 11 295 sq km (4361 sq miles)

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Other Word Forms

• Gambian adjective

Example Sentences

With many recent departures taking place from further south in The Gambia and Guinea, migrants are now spending longer at sea and facing more hardships.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

Ivan's ship was sailing under a false Gambian flag, unregistered and unknown to Gambia.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

The 1948 UN Genocide Convention, which The Gambia accuses Myanmar of breaching in its treatment of the Rohingya, was adopted following the mass murder of Jews by Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

The Gambia launched its case against Myanmar in 2019, with Jallow telling the ICJ it did so out of a "sense of responsibility" following its own experience with a military government.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

Limnyuy, Fatu, and Daré took the last three, representing Cameroon, Gambia, and Togo.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton