Senegal

American  

[sen-i-gawl, -gahl] / ˌsɛn ɪˈgɔl, -ˈgɑl /

noun

1. a republic in western Africa, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and on the east by Mali. 76,084 square miles (197,057 square kilometers). Dakar.

2. a river in western Africa, flowing northwest from eastern Mali to the Atlantic Ocean at Saint-Louis in Senegal. About 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) long.

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Senegal British  

/ ˌsɛnɪˈɡɔːl /

noun

1. a republic in West Africa, on the Atlantic: made part of French West Africa in 1895; became fully independent in 1960; joined with The Gambia to form the Confederation of Senegambia (1982–89); mostly low-lying, with semidesert in the north and tropical forest in the southwest Official language: French. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: franc. Capital: Dakar. Pop: 13 300 410 (2013 est). Area: 197 160 sq km (76 124 sq miles)

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Senegal Cultural  

1. Republic in western Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south. Dakar is the capital and largest city.

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Discover More

Senegal was a French colony from 1895 to 1958. It became fully independent in 1960.

Etymology

Origin of Senegal

First recorded in 1750–60; from French Sénégal, named after the Senegal River

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Senegal

A South Korean-owned supertanker, Senegal Prosperity, was reportedly struck east of Musandam around the same time.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

With a total public-sector debt estimated at 132 percent of GDP at the end of 2024, according to the IMF, Senegal is one of the most indebted countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

The Senegal Prosperity, run by South Korea’s Sinokor, was hit by three objects, also while sailing east of Oman, Marisks said, adding that both vessels were attempting to exit the Persian Gulf.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

The Liberia-flagged Senegal Prosperity is managed by a unit of Sinokor Maritime of South Korea, according to its safety-certification provider, Bureau Veritas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Leah and Adah and I started bickering practically the minute we met up in Senegal.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver