Benin
Americannoun
-
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). 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.
noun
-
Former name (until 1975): Dahomey. 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)
-
a former kingdom of W Africa, powerful from the 14th to the 17th centuries: now a province of S Nigeria: noted for its bronzes
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.
A coral reef off the coast of Benin that was thought to be dead for decades has been found alive and apparently healthy.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
The members of the UN committee -- who will weigh whether to replace Kyaw Moe Tun -- include the Bahamas, Belgium, Benin, China, Jamaica, Russia, Uganda, the United States and Vanuatu.
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026
The attack is the latest sign of worsening insecurity in the Borgu area, which borders Kebbi and Kwara states as well as neighbouring Benin.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Judges Kimberly Prost of Canada, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda and Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin said the sanctions were designed to exert extrajudicial pressure with the objective of punishing and coercing the judges.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
My uncle came to Benin Home earlier than usual to get me.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
