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

Bakary Jaiju was 19 when he climbed into a wooden boat in the Gambia and set out for Europe.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

IMF chief spokesperson Julie Kozack told reporters in Washington that the multilateral lender would provide increased or accelerated access to funds to Ethiopia, The Gambia and Burkina Faso.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

The trip from The Gambia to the Canaries is 1,000 nautical miles, meaning there is a vast region where the boat might be, Samira said.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

One morning in January the crew received an alert from another NGO that a boat which had departed The Gambia carrying 103 people, including nine women and three children, was missing.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

There was still a weakness on the Under Thirteens, though, in goal: Eldin and Mafoday, the heavyset young man from Gambia with the blinding smile.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John