Caribbean
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the islands or region of the Caribbean Sea, or to its inhabitants.
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of or relating to the Carib people.
noun
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the Caribbean Sea.
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the Caribbean, the islands and countries of the Caribbean Sea collectively.
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a native or inhabitant of a Caribbean country.
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a Carib.
adjective
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of, or relating to, the Caribbean Sea and its islands
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of, or relating to, the Carib or any of their languages
noun
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the states and islands of the Caribbean Sea, including the West Indies, when considered as a geopolitical region
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short for the Caribbean Sea
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a member of any of the peoples inhabiting the islands of the Caribbean Sea, such as a West Indian or a Carib
Usage
Caribbean is used as a plural noun (a candidate favored by Caribbeans ), but it's relatively rare as a singular noun (the candidate who is a Caribbean ).
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Caribbean
First recorded in 1650–60; from New Latin Carib(b)aeus, adjective formed from New Latin plural noun Caribes, from Spanish and Portuguese singular noun caribe Carib ( def. ); see also cannibal ( def. ), caribe ( def. )
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.
Later this month, the King goes on an important trip to the Caribbean and the Prince of Wales will be in India next month with his Earthshot environmental prize.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Written with an unmistakably Caribbean verve and snappy, conversational meter, Carrero defines his stance on Cuba in no uncertain terms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
The scene shows part of the Caribbean, with Cuba near the bottom and the Bahamas toward the top.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
His assignment: to foment an uprising by enslaved workers on a French colony in the Caribbean.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Once he regained control of the sugar island, he could use the Louisiana Territory to feed and supply all his sugar plan-tations in the Caribbean, and reap the rewards in white gold.
From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson
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