Niger

American  

[nahy-jer, nee-zher] / ˈnaɪ dʒər, niˈʒɛr /

noun

1. a republic in NW Africa: formerly part of French West Africa. 458,976 sq. mi. (1,188,748 sq. km). Niamey.

2. a river in W Africa, rising in S Guinea, flowing NE through Mali, and then SE through Nigeria into the Gulf of Guinea. 2,600 miles (4,185 km) long.

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Niger British  

noun

1. a landlocked republic in West Africa: important since earliest times for its trans-Saharan trade routes; made a French colony in 1922 and became fully independent in 1960; exports peanuts and livestock. Official language: French. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: franc. Capital: Niamey. Pop: 16 899 327 (2013 est). Area: 1 267 000 sq km (489 000 sq miles)

2. a river in West Africa, rising in S Guinea and flowing in a great northward curve through Mali, then southwest through Niger and Nigeria to the Gulf of Guinea: the third longest river in Africa, with the largest delta, covering an area of 36 260 sq km (14 000 sq miles). Length: 4184 km (2600 miles)

3. a state of W central Nigeria. Capital: Minna. Pop: 3 950 249 (2006). Area: 76 363 sq km (29 476 sq miles)

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Niger Cultural  

1. Republic in western Africa, bordered by Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria to the northwest, Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, and Nigeria and Benin to the south. Niamey is the capital and largest city.

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Discover More

Niger was under French control from the 1880s to 1960, when it gained full independence.

Other Word Forms

• Nigerien
  adjective
• trans-Niger
  adjective

Compare meaning

How does niger compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Niger vs. Nigeria

Example Sentences

Niger has been fighting a militant Islamist insurgency for a decade and in January suspected jihadists launched an attack on the same airport.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

On Christmas Day, the United States, in collaboration with Nigerian authorities, carried out airstrikes in northwestern Sokoto State targeting fighters from the IS in the Sahel group, usually active in neighbouring Niger.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

The performance resonated strongly with many viewers, particularly in Nigeria's Niger Delta region, because of the character's identity.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

The militia member said the number of dead was unknown, as the operation on the vast expanse of water and marshland between Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad was still ongoing.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

The first was in Asia, where Pescennius Niger, commander of the Asian armies, had himself proclaimed emperor.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli