Somaliland

American

[soh-mah-lee-land, suh-] / soʊˈmɑ liˌlænd, sə- /

noun

a coastal region in E Africa, including Djibouti, Somalia, and the Ogaden part of Ethiopia.

Somaliland British

/ səʊˈmɑːlɪˌlænd /

noun

a former region of E Africa, between the equator and the Gulf of Aden: includes Somalia, Djibouti, and SE Ethiopia

"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.

Somaliland authorities "only saw the recognition, without thinking about the future," fears Roland Marchal, a regional specialist based at France's Sciences Po university.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

In addition to lithium, Somaliland is rich in tantalum and niobium -- critical minerals for electronics -- as well as gold, copper, and emeralds, according to the ministry, though quantities have yet to be verified.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Minister to the presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi told AFP on Saturday that Somaliland, seeking further international recognition, was prepared to grant exclusive mining rights to the United States.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Like many in Somaliland, he hopes Israel can help.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

He explained that many of the countries, like Siam and Italian Somaliland, no longer existed in the same way; the names had changed by now.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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