Senegal

American  

[sen-i-gawl, -gahl] / ˌsɛn ɪˈgɔl, -ˈgɑl /

noun

1. a republic in western Africa, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and on the east by Mali. 76,084 square miles (197,057 square kilometers). Dakar.

2. a river in western Africa, flowing northwest from eastern Mali to the Atlantic Ocean at Saint-Louis in Senegal. About 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) long.

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Senegal British  

/ ˌsɛnɪˈɡɔːl /

noun

1. a republic in West Africa, on the Atlantic: made part of French West Africa in 1895; became fully independent in 1960; joined with The Gambia to form the Confederation of Senegambia (1982–89); mostly low-lying, with semidesert in the north and tropical forest in the southwest Official language: French. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: franc. Capital: Dakar. Pop: 13 300 410 (2013 est). Area: 197 160 sq km (76 124 sq miles)

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Senegal Cultural  

1. Republic in western Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south. Dakar is the capital and largest city.

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Senegal was a French colony from 1895 to 1958. It became fully independent in 1960.

Etymology

Origin of Senegal

First recorded in 1750–60; from French Sénégal, named after the Senegal River

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Senegal

The ASX-listed mining-services company concluded projects in Burkina Faso, Senegal and Botswana at the end of FY25 and during 1H26.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

Spiraling debt crises were forcing West African countries—Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria—to lay off state workers, who struggled to land jobs in the private sector.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

It was a massive wasted opportunity for a gifted generation of Senegal players.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Sall, who has lived in Morocco since leaving Senegal, had announced Tuesday that he would travel to Dakar for the visit to see Faye.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

Gabourey’s father is from Senegal, and she said she loves it when black women wear their hair in traditional African styles.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana