Gibraltar

American  

[ji-brawl-ter] / dʒɪˈbrɔl tər /

noun

1. a British crown colony comprising a fortress and seaport located on a narrow promontory near the southern tip of Spain. 1.875 sq. mi. (5 sq. km).

2. Rock of Gibraltar.

   1. Ancient Calpe.  a long, precipitous mountain nearly coextensive with this colony: one of the Pillars of Hercules. 1,396 feet (426 meters) high; 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long.

   2. any person or thing that has strength and endurance that can be relied on.

3. Strait of Gibraltar, a strait between Europe and Africa at the Atlantic entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. 8.5–23 miles (14–37 kilometers) wide.

4. any impregnable fortress or stronghold.

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Gibraltar British  

/ dʒɪˈbrɔːltə /

noun

1. Ancient name: Calpe.  a city on the Rock of Gibraltar, a limestone promontory at the tip of S Spain: settled by Moors in 711 and taken by Spain in 1462; ceded to Britain in 1713; a British crown colony (1830–1969), still politically associated with Britain; a naval and air base of strategic importance. Pop: 29 111 (2013 est). Area: 6.5 sq km (2.5 sq miles)

2. a narrow strait between the S tip of Spain and the NW tip of Africa, linking the Mediterranean with the Atlantic

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Gibraltar Cultural  

1. A colony of Britain on the southern coast of Spain.

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Discover More

Its seeming impregnability as a fortress during several wars led to the saying: “solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.”

Spain has protested British control of Gibraltar, but the dispute has remained unsettled for years.

Location of an important military base; strategically significant because it can be used to keep ships from entering or leaving the Mediterranean Sea.

Located on the Rock of Gibraltar, a huge limestone mass.

Other Word Forms

• Gibraltarian
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Gibraltar

First recorded in 1570–80; from Arabic jabal ṭāriq “Mountain of Tariq,” named after Tariq ibn Ziyad, who led the Omayyad conquest of Spain beginning in 711

Example Sentences

Japan’s Nikkei.com news site reported External link earlier Tuesday that “dozens of cases of suspected financial fraud by former employees of Gibraltar Life Insurance, a subsidiary of the Prudential Group have surfaced.”

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Prudential Financial stock fell on Tuesday after a report about potential employee misconduct at Japan-based Gibraltar Life Insurance.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

The U.K. could resolve its debt problems with tolls at the Strait of Gibraltar and the English Channel, although France might object.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Branded "rhubarb and custard", Scotland wore a modern interpretation on the Earl of Rosebery's colours to round off Euro 2016 qualifying with a dominant 6-0 win over Gibraltar in Faro.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Pedro Romero said he had learned a little English in Gibraltar.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway