Bahamas

American  

[buh-hah-muhz, -hey-] / bəˈhɑ məz, -ˈheɪ- /

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) a group of islands in the W Atlantic Ocean, SE of Florida.

2. (used with a singular verb) an independent country comprising this group: formerly a British colony; gained independence 1973. 4,404 sq. mi. (11,406 sq. km). Nassau.

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Bahamas British  

/ bəˈhɑːməz /

plural noun

1. a group of over 700 coral islands (about 20 of which are inhabited) in the Caribbean: a British colony from 1783 until 1964; an independent nation within the Commonwealth from 1973. Language: English. Currency: Bahamian dollar. Capital: Nassau. Pop: 319 031 (2013 est). Area: 13 939 sq km (5381 sq miles)

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Bahamas Cultural  

1. Republic in the Atlantic Ocean, consisting of 700 islands and islets and 2,400 smaller islands, called cays.

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The Bahamas were under the control of Britain until 1973, when they became an independent, self-governing state.

The Bahamas are a popular winter resort.

Other Word Forms

• Bahamian noun

Example Sentences

As we recently reported, some shippers are circumventing the Jones Act by routing gasoline from the Gulf Coast to California through a pit-stop in the Bahamas.

From The Wall Street Journal

During a spring trip to the Bahamas, days after Fink and Koh shared a white paper describing their new business idea with a potential investor, they began negotiating a pre-seed investment.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, some Gulf Coast shippers have devised a nifty Jones Act work-around that involves a circuitous route through the Bahamas.

From The Wall Street Journal

Norwegian owns Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, one of the biggest private islands in the industry, but industry-watchers say its development plans have been slow-going.

From The Wall Street Journal

“He’s doing a lot of great things in Jamaica and the Bahamas and in his community like that. So, it just makes us all feel better and easier to support him.”

From Los Angeles Times