Guinea-Bissau

American  

[gin-ee-bi-sou] / ˈgɪn i bɪˈsaʊ /

noun

1. a republic on the western coast of Africa, between Guinea and Senegal: formerly a Portuguese overseas province; gained independence in 1974. 13,948 sq. mi. (36,125 sq. km). Bissau.

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Guinea-Bissau British  

noun

1. Former name (until 1974): Portuguese Guinea.  a republic in West Africa, on the Atlantic: first discovered by the Portuguese in 1446 and of subsequent importance in the slave trade; made a colony in 1879; became an independent republic in 1974. Official language: Portuguese; Cape Verde creole is widely spoken. Religion: animist majority and Muslim. Currency: franc. Capital: Bissau. Pop: 1 660 870 (2013 est). Area: 36 125 sq km (13 948 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

Nixon, the HHS spokesman, said the study is paused pending a review by Guinea-Bissau.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

As a child, Gomis was deeply affected by the funeral ceremony held for his father in his village in Guinea-Bissau, the very place he chose to shoot the African portion of his film.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

A now-halted plan to run a hepatitis B vaccine trial involving thousands of newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been criticised by the World Health Organization as "unethical".

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

The Guinea-Bissau study faced international condemnation after scientists and advocates fought back.

From Salon • Jan. 21, 2026

Guinea-Bissau   In 1994, 20 years after independence from Portugal,   the country's first multiparty legislative and presidential   elections were held.

From The 2003 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency