Benin

[ be-neen ]

/ bɛˌnin /

Save This Word!

noun

Formerly Dahomey. a republic in W Africa: formerly part of French West Africa; gained independence in 1960. 44,290 sq. mi. (114,711 sq. km). Capital: Porto Novo.

Bight of, a bay in N Gulf of Guinea in W Africa.

a former native kingdom in W Africa: now incorporated into Nigeria.

a river in S Nigeria, flowing into the Bight of Benin.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby Benin

benignly, benign neglect, benign prostatic hyperplasia, Beni Hasan, Beni Mellal, Benin, Benin City, Beninese, Benioff zone, benison, Beni-Suef

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Benin in a sentence

It was an area controlled by the powerful kingdom of Benin located in the hinterland north of the delta.
How the language of the Edo people of Nigeria made its way into Portuguese creole|Uwagbale Edward-Ekpu|July 23, 2021|Quartz
Romuald Hazoumè, the artist, I found him to be, as great artists are, so insightful and revelatory in his work with the oil cans and breaking down the geopolitics between Nigeria and Benin through that artwork.
The Lasting Impact of ‘High on the Hog’|Monica Burton|June 10, 2021|Eater
Benin saw its ratings outlook improve after successful eurobond issuances in January.
Why investors can’t get enough of Africa’s debt|Carlos Mureithi|April 18, 2021|Quartz
Today, the app operates in seven cities across Togo and Benin and recently announced a partnership with Singaporean fund manager Asia Africa Investment & Consulting.
The Next Teslas|Daniel Malloy|March 7, 2021|Ozy

Since that 2016 start, it’s treated more than 1,600 babies and has spread from its Nigerian home base to Ghana, Kenya and Benin.
25 Rising Stars to Track in 2021|Daniel Malloy|December 20, 2020|Ozy
At the Global awards ceremony, musical artists set the crowd on fire, especially Benin singer Angelique Kidjo.
Bill Clinton, Loretta Claiborne: Best Moments From 2012 Clinton Global Initiative (Video)|Nina Strochlic|September 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Ledit Sieur homme accort & benin le receut humainement, encores qu'auparavant en l'an 1607.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Drunami finally returned to Benin, and surrendered to the British authorities.
The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 44, September 9, 1897|Various
As the Lander brothers floated down the stream formed by the union of these two, they soon found themselves in the Bight of Benin.
The World and Its People: Book VII|Anna B. Badlam
A most interesting example of hide appears in the Horniman Museum, taken from the kings palace at Benin in 1897.
History of the Fan|George Woolliscroft Rhead
Benin and Omdurman, and other 'cruel habitations,' have been thrown open and broken down.
Chatterbox, 1906|Various

British Dictionary definitions for Benin

Benin

/ (bɛˈniːn) /

noun

a republic in W Africa, on the Bight of Benin, a section of the Gulf of Guinea: in the early 19th century a powerful kingdom, famed for its women warriors; became a French colony in 1893, gaining independence in 1960. It consists chiefly of coastal lagoons and swamps in the south, a fertile plain and marshes in the centre, and the Atakora Mountains in the northwest. Official language: French. Religion: animist majority. Currency: franc. Capital: Porto Novo (the government is based in Cotonou). Pop: 9 877 292 (2013 est). Area: 112 622 sq km (43 474 sq miles)Former name (until 1975): Dahomey

a former kingdom of W Africa, powerful from the 14th to the 17th centuries: now a province of S Nigeria: noted for its bronzes

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