Orkney

British

/ ˈɔːknɪ, ˈɔːknɪz /

plural noun

a group of over 70 islands off the N coast of Scotland, separated from the mainland by the Pentland Firth: constitutes an island authority of Scotland; low-lying and treeless; many important prehistoric remains. Administrative centre: Kirkwall. Pop: 19 310 (2003 est). Area: 974 sq km (376 sq miles)

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Hyseas project culminated in a design for a hydrogen-powered small ferry for Orkney - but it never got beyond the drawing board.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Orkney Islands Council confirmed it had received some of the boxes at its schools, including Stromness Academy, Kirkwall Grammar School and Papdale Halls of Residence for pupils to enjoy.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

That led to a fundraising campaign raising money for charity - but with a shorter shelf life, the Orkney banana glut required a swifter solution.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The strongest gust was 74mph in South Uist Range, Hebrides with Orkney recording a gust of 68mph.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

She knew that the Cornwall and Orkney faction had always been the menace to her husband's hopes—and Gawaine was now the head of the dan.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023