Caribbean Sea

American  

noun

1. a part of the Atlantic Ocean bounded by Central America, the West Indies, and South America. About 750,000 square miles (1,943,000 square kilometers); greatest known depth 22,788 feet (6,946 meters).

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Caribbean Sea British  

noun

1. an almost landlocked sea, part of the Atlantic Ocean, bounded by the Caribbean islands, Central America, and the N coast of South America. Area: 2 718 200 sq km (1 049 500 sq miles)

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Caribbean Sea Cultural  

1. Arm of the Atlantic Ocean, bordered by the West Indies to the north and east, South America to the south, and Central America to the west.

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Since announcing the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, the United States has considered the Caribbean within its “sphere of influence” — that is, a region where United States interests are directly affected. The policy has been to exclude foreign powers, though after 1959, Cuba came under strong influence of the Soviet Union.

Its clear blue waters make many of its islands popular vacation spots.

Etymology

Origin of Caribbean Sea

First recorded in 1760–65

Example Sentences

In December, he described the experience in detail in a private briefing for aides of Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who had sought information on civilian casualty protocols involving boat strikes in the Caribbean Sea.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

The lawsuit is thought to be the first wrongful death case arising from the three dozen strikes that the administration has launched since September on boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026

The "active pursuit" in the Caribbean Sea was happening a day after the Coast Guard seized its second vessel off Venezuela in two weeks.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

A man’s voice cut through the rain pelting the pitch-black Caribbean Sea, just audible between two boats tossed around by 10-foot waves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

An island of the archipelago in the South Atlantic between North and South America, enclosing the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico: divided into the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahama Islands.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison