Benin

[be-neen]

noun

1. 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.

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

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

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

Benin

/ bɛˈniːn /

noun

1. 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)

2. 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

The other four automatic African qualifiers for the World Cup will be decided on Monday and Tuesday with Benin, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast and Senegal the group leaders.

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Nigeria host Benin on Tuesday in a must-win game as they attempt to clinch qualification for next year's World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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Retired from riding, he was now coaching the women’s national team for the West African country of Benin.

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There are nine qualifiers scheduled for Friday, including three in Group C, where leaders Benin, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda and Lesotho all have a mathematical chance of finishing first.

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The Boracay is currently registered in Benin, but has changed name and flag several times in recent years as part of alleged efforts to evade sanctions brought in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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