North Africa

American  

[nawrth af-ri-kuh] / ˈnɔrθ ˈæf rɪ kə /

noun

1. the northern part of Africa, especially the region north of the tropical rainforest and comprised of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and that part of Egypt west of the Gulf of Suez.

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North Africa British  

noun

1. the part of Africa between the Mediterranean and the Sahara: consists chiefly of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and N Egypt

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Other Word Forms

• North African adjective

Etymology

Origin of North Africa

First recorded in 1840–45

Example Sentences

Poverty across the Middle East and North Africa has risen from 12% to 18% since 2010.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

“Iran intends to make any U.S. landing as costly and politically unsustainable as possible,” said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, a London-based think tank.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Twenty-two migrants hoping to reach Europe from North Africa have died off the coast of Greece after six days at sea in a rubber boat, survivors told the Greek coastguard Saturday.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

Using Helium-3 data from six K/Pg boundary locations in Europe, North Africa, and the Gulf of Mexico, the team calculated improved sedimentation rates.

From Science Daily • Mar. 15, 2026

North Africa enjoys a Mediterranean climate, characterized by rainfall concentrated in the winter months.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond