West Indies

noun

1. Also called the Indies. (used with a plural verb),  an archipelago in the northern Atlantic between North and South America, comprising the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas.

2. Also called West Indies Federation. (used with a singular verb),  Federation of the West Indies. a former federation (1958–62) of the British islands in the Caribbean, comprising Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago, and the Windward and Leeward island colonies.

West Indies

/ ˈɪndɪz /

noun

1. Also called: the Caribbean. an archipelago off Central America, extending over 2400 km (1500 miles) in an arc from the peninsula of Florida to Venezuela, separating the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean: consists of the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas; largest island is Cuba. Area: over 235 000 sq km (91 000 sq miles)

West Indies

1. Archipelago between North America and South America curving from southern Florida to Venezuela.

It is a popular resort area.

Several of the islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492.

Other Word Forms

• West Indian adjective