archipelago

[ ahr-kuh-pel-uh-goh ]

noun

, plural ar·chi·pel·a·gos, ar·chi·pel·a·goes.

1. a large group or chain of islands:

   the Malay Archipelago.

2. any large body of water with many islands.
3. the Archipelago, the Aegean Sea.

archipelago

/ ˌɑːkɪpəˈleɪdʒɪən; ˌɑːkɪpəˈlædʒɪk; ˌɑːkɪˈpɛlɪˌɡəʊ /

noun

1. a group of islands
2. a sea studded with islands

archipelago

/ är′kə-pĕl′ə-gō′ /

1. A large group of islands.
2. A sea, such as the Aegean, or an area in a sea containing a large number of scattered islands.

archipelago

1. A group of islands near one another.

Derived Forms

• archipelagic, adjective

Other Words From

• ar·chi·pe·lag·ic [ahr-k, uh, -p, uh, -, laj, -ik], ar·chi·pe·la·gi·an [ahr-k, uh, -p, uh, -, ley, -jee-, uh, n, -j, uh, n], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of archipelago¹

1495–1505; alteration ( archi- for arci- ) of Italian arcipelago, alteration of Egeopelago the Aegean Sea < Greek Aigaîon pélagos

Word History and Origins

Origin of archipelago¹

C16 (meaning: the Aegean Sea): from Italian arcipelago, literally: the chief sea (perhaps originally a mistranslation of Greek Aigaion pelagos the Aegean Sea), from archi- + pelago sea, from Latin pelagus, from Greek pelagos

Example Sentences

It’s part of the Seychelles, an archipelago off of East Africa.

From Science News For Students

Sohn builds impact with repetition, filling a section of floor with an archipelago of craggy tan islets.

From Washington Post

Or, they may have island-hopped across ancient island archipelagos, which would eventually make up the present-day terrains of Southeast Asia and the Philippines.

From The Daily Beast

Part of IJburg, an archipelago of six new islands built by city contractors, Beach Island was reclaimed from the waters with sand carried by boats run on low-emission fuel.

From Time

The nation also presents one of the toughest logistical challenges, with a population of some 273 million spread across the world’s largest archipelago.

From Fortune

The flight path remained close to the Indonesian archipelago, well within what is the normal reach of air traffic control radar.

From The Daily Beast

This windswept sheep-filled archipelago off the coast of Southern Patagonia remains an Argentine obsession.

From The Daily Beast

The largest of an archipelago of islands, Santorini is the vestige of a single volcanic landmass that erupted around 1600 BC.

From The Daily Beast

Power has withered at the center and devolved to an archipelago of fiefdoms where warlords rule without the burdens of governing.

From The Daily Beast

There were three Dutch voyages to the Arctic archipelago in the 16th century.

From The Daily Beast

The leaguers were now anxious to co-operate with the Americans in compelling the Spaniards to evacuate the Archipelago.

From Project Gutenberg

Dangerous situation of the brig among the islands of Buccaneer's Archipelago.

From Project Gutenberg

The supremacy of the United States must and will be enforced throughout every part of the Archipelago.

From Project Gutenberg

Taken as a whole Yloilo still remains one of the most charmless spots in the Archipelago.

From Project Gutenberg

Off the Buccaneer's Archipelago the tides are strong and rise to the height of thirty-six feet.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• enclave
• isle
• islet
• peninsula
• reef