Mali

American  

[mah-lee] / ˈmɑ li /

noun

1. Republic of Mali, a republic in western Africa: formerly a territory of France; gained independence 1960. 463,500 sq. mi. (120,000 sq. km). Bamako.

---

Mali British  

/ ˈmɑːlɪ /

noun

1. Former name (1898–1959): French Sudan.  a landlocked republic in West Africa: conquered by the French by 1898 and incorporated (as French Sudan) into French West Africa; became independent in 1960; settled chiefly in the basins of the Rivers Senegal and Niger in the south. Official language: French. Religion: Muslim majority, also animist. Currency: franc. Capital: Bamako. Pop: 15 968 882 (2013 est). Area: 1 248 574 sq km (482 077 sq miles)

---

Mali Cultural  

1. Republic in west Africa bordered by Algeria to the north and east, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast to the south, Guinea to the southwest, Senegal and Mauritania to the west. Its capital is Bamako. It became an independent nation in 1960.

---

Discover More

During the Middle Ages, Mali formed a huge territorial empire, noted as a center of Islamic study and as a trade route for gold. Its center was Timbuktu.

Other Word Forms

• Malian noun

Example Sentences

"Now it feels more offensive because I feel like there is no excuse any more," Mali said.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

This edition was curated and edited in collaboration with Joe Haberstroh and Mali Michelle Fleming.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The United States had suspended the bulk of its security and other assistance to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger after military takeovers from 2020 to 2023.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

The Chinese embassy in Mali has not responded to the BBC's request for comment.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

Similarly, the most sympathetic Mali Ambassador had been in New York at the United Nations.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey