West Indies

American  

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.

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West Indies British  

/ 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)

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West Indies Cultural  

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

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Discover More

It is a popular resort area.

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

Other Word Forms

• West Indian adjective

Example Sentences

Bangladesh are due to play the West Indies in Kolkata on February 7, the opening day of the World Cup.

From Barron's

Morris also led England A on tours to South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka, while he resumed the Glamorgan captaincy in 1993.

From BBC

He also won three full England caps and captained England A on tours of South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka.

From BBC

This is the first time he has been left out of a Test since the 2022 tour of West Indies.

From BBC

Cummins suffered a back problem following the tour of West Indies in July.

From BBC