Sabah

American  

[sah-bah] / ˈsɑ bɑ /

noun

1. a state in Malaysia, on the northern tip of Borneo: formerly a British crown colony. 29,347 sq. mi. (76,008 sq. km). Kota Kinabalu.

---

Sabah British  

/ ˈsɑːbɑː /

noun

1. Former name (until 1963): North Borneo.  a state of Malaysia, occupying N Borneo and offshore islands in the South China and Sulu Seas: became a British protectorate in 1888; gained independence and joined Malaysia in 1963. Capital: Kota Kinabalu. Pop: 2 603 485 (2000). Area: 73 620 sq km (28 425 sq miles)

---

Example Sentences

Urea sales should also recover following Sabah plant’s turnaround, though weaker polyethylene prices and new capacity additions in China will continue to pressure the olefins and derivatives division, keeping 2026 outlook challenging, he adds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

Dr Sabah Usmani, 44, and her five children - Hira, 12; Sohaib, 11; Muneeb, nine; Rayyan, six; and Maheen, three - died following the fire at their home in Harlow, Essex.

From BBC • May 21, 2025

The UK also announced sanctions on two other settlers - Zohar Sabah and Harel David Libi, as well as the outposts Coco's Farm and Neria's Farm, and the organisation Libi Construction and Infrastructure LTD.

From BBC • May 20, 2025

It was — Sheikh Nawaf had the third-shortest tenure of any emir since the Al Sabah ruled Kuwait beginning in 1752.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 16, 2023

Only the Sabah, Sicto feared, but he would probably take a chance on this being the Chino mail boat or a Spanish tramp.

From The Adventures of Piang the Moro Jungle Boy A Book for Young and Old by Stuart, Florence Partello