Guinea

[ gin-ee ]

/ ˈgɪn i /

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noun

a coastal region in western Africa, extending from the Gambia River to the Gabon estuary.

an independent republic in western Africa, on the Atlantic coast. About 96,900 sq. mi. (251,000 sq. km). Capital: Conakry.Formerly French Guinea

Gulf of Guinea, a part of the Atlantic Ocean that projects into the western coast of Africa and extends from the Ivory Coast to Gabon.

(lowercase) a former money of account of the United Kingdom, equal to 21 shillings: still often used in quoting fees or prices.

(lowercase) a gold coin of Great Britain issued from 1663 to 1813, with a nominal value of 20 shillings.

(lowercase)Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a person of Italian birth or descent.

(lowercase)Horse Racing. a person who does miscellaneous work in or around a horse stable.

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OTHER WORDS FROM Guinea

Guin·e·an, adjective, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH Guinea

Guiana, Guinea , Guyana

Words nearby Guinea

guiltless, guilt trip, guilty, guimpe, Guin., Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea corn, Guinea Current, guinea fowl, guinea grains

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use Guinea in a sentence

We are, essentially, an army of guinea pigs millions strong.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Guinea, with 25 percent, recorded the lowest adult literacy rate in the world at that time.
The Radio Battle to Educate Ebola’s Kids|Abby Haglage|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Guinea, just 42 percent of the population aged 15-24 can both read and write a “short simple statement” in their everyday life.
The Radio Battle to Educate Ebola’s Kids|Abby Haglage|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Neighboring Guinea and Liberia, said WHO, were presenting evidence of a decrease in cases.
Jail Threats for Sierra Leone Ebola Victims’ Families|Abby Haglage|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“We know the outbreak is still flaming strongly in western Sierra Leone and some parts of the interior of Guinea,” said Nabarro.
Jail Threats for Sierra Leone Ebola Victims’ Families|Abby Haglage|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The flute-player informed him that he generally charged two guineas for the first month, and one guinea for the second.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
In the tenth week the bacillus present when in pure culture killed a guinea-pig in thirty-six hours.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
It is the same with the Guinea hog, which has greatly multiplied in America, after being brought thither from Africa.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume VII (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon
Others thought they existed on the western coasts of Africa, because they have sometimes been transported from Brasil into Guinea.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume VII (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon
He is there much larger and stronger than in Guinea, or in the other western parts of Africa.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume VII (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon

British Dictionary definitions for Guinea (1 of 2)

guinea

/ (ˈɡɪnɪ) /

noun

a British gold coin taken out of circulation in 1813, worth 21 shillings
the sum of 21 shillings (£1.05), still used in some contexts, as in quoting professional fees

See guinea fowl

US slang, derogatory an Italian or a person of Italian descent

Word Origin for guinea

C16: the coin was originally made of gold from Guinea

British Dictionary definitions for Guinea (2 of 2)

Guinea

/ (ˈɡɪnɪ) /

noun

a republic in West Africa, on the Atlantic: established as the colony of French Guinea in 1890 and became an independent republic in 1958. Official language: French. Religion: Muslim majority and animist. Currency: franc. Capital: Conakry. Pop: 11 176 026 (2013 est). Area: 245 855 sq km (94 925 sq miles)

(formerly) the coastal region of West Africa, between Cape Verde and Namibe (formerly Moçâmedes; Angola): divided by a line of volcanic peaks into Upper Guinea (between The Gambia and Cameroon) and Lower Guinea (between Cameroon and S Angola)

Gulf of Guinea a large inlet of the S Atlantic on the W coast of Africa, extending from Cape Palmas, Liberia, to Cape Lopez, Gabon: contains two large bays, the Bight of Bonny and the Bight of Benin, separated by the Niger delta

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

Cultural definitions for Guinea

Guinea

[ (gin-ee) ]

Republic in west Africa, bordered by Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mali to the north; Ivory Coast to the east; Liberia to the south; and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its capital and largest city is Conarky.

notes for Guinea

Guinea was once part of the Mali empire.

notes for Guinea

It became independent of France in 1958.