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

Plantation slavery was perfected in the West Indies, notably on the sugar islands of British Barbados and present-day Haiti, where the system proved immensely profitable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

In all, millions of African captives were shipped to the West Indies and Brazil, many times the number taken to British North America.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

In one memorable passage on the French West Indies, he writes:

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The West Indies team is to return home via commercial flights from India after a "distressing" wait following their exit from the men's T20 World Cup.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

Finally, around 1778, he was allowed to sail to the West Indies.

From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen