Malawi

American  

[muh-lah-wee] / məˈlɑ wi /

noun

1. Formerly Nyasaland.  a republic in southeastern Africa, on the western and southern shores of Lake Malawi: formerly a British protectorate and part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland; gained independence July 6, 1964; a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 49,177 sq. mi. (127,368 sq. km). Lilongwe.

2. Formerly Nyasa,.  Formerly Nyassa.  Lake Malawi, a lake in southeastern Africa, between Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique. About 11,000 sq. mi. (28,500 sq. km).

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Malawi British  

/ məˈlɑːwɪ /

noun

1. Former name: Nyasaland.  a republic in E central Africa: established as a British protectorate in 1891; became independent in 1964 and a republic, within the Commonwealth, in 1966; lies along the Great Rift Valley, with Lake Nyasa (Malawi) along the E border, the Nyika Plateau in the northwest, and the Shire (or Shiré) Highlands in the southeast. Official language: Chichewa; English and various other Bantu languages are also widely spoken. Religion: Christian majority, Muslim, and animist minorities. Currency: kwacha. Capital: Lilongwe. Pop: 16 777 547 (2013 est). Area: 118 484 sq km (45 747 sq miles)

2. the Malawi name for (Lake) Nyasa

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Malawi Cultural  

1. Republic in southeast Africa, bordered by Tanzania to the north, Mozambique to the east and south, and Zambia to the west. It became independent in 1964.

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Other Word Forms

• Malawian adjective

Example Sentences

Anjimire Oponyo, sister of ex-president Joyce Banda, challenged her 2011 removal from the board of the singer's charity, Raising Malawi, following allegations of financial mismanagement.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

He was referring to the bilateral health deals that the US has now entered into with several countries including Kenya, Malawi and Nigeria.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

More than six million people in Malawi and Zambia face hunger after crops failed and cattle starved, according to the United Nations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

These samples came from earlier excavations in Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa, regions known for early human activity.

From Science Daily • Jan. 3, 2026

Our district is the most fertile in all Malawi, often called the “breadbasket” of the country, and Banda understood what was required to work the soil.

From "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba