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Bahamas

American  
[buh-hah-muhz, -hay-] / 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.


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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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


Discover More

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The scene shows part of the Caribbean, with Cuba near the bottom and the Bahamas toward the top.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

In October 2020 Sir Sean died peacefully in his sleep in the Bahamas, having been "unwell for some time", his son said.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

In photos of the Bahamas celebration reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, guests posed under a heart, and one guest captioned her post “the wedding of the century.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump said in a jointly signed post on Bettina's Instagram account that their "dear friend" Umar Kremlev "very generously hosted two incredible nights" of festivities in the Bahamas in May.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

Their honeymoon would be a brief trip to the Bahamas, after which Caroline would move into Eric’s apartment.

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat

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