noun
Uncommon
archipelago
ah-kih-PEH-lih-goh
Archipelago (noun) means a group or chain of many islands scattered across a stretch of water. Example: “The Philippines is an archipelago made up of more than 7,000 islands.”
noun
1
A group or chain of many islands scattered across a stretch of water.
"The Philippines is an archipelago made up of more than 7,000 islands."
"They sailed between the islands of the archipelago for weeks."
How to use archipelago
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large group of islands close together in the sea.
Common pairings
island archipelago
a vast archipelago
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Word forms
- Plural
- archipelagoes, archipelagos
- Third person singular
- archipelagos
- Past tense
- archipelagoed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The Philippines is an _____ made up of more than 7,000 islands.
Etymology
From Italian arcipelago, originally referring to the Aegean Sea, from arci- ("chief") plus pelago ("sea").
Rhymes for archipelago
See all rhymes for archipelago →Frequently asked questions
What does “archipelago” mean?
The word “archipelago” means a group or chain of many islands scattered across a stretch of water. In plain terms, a large group of islands close together in the sea.
How do you pronounce “archipelago”?
“Archipelago” is pronounced ah-kih-PEH-lih-goh (/ˌɑɹkəˈpɛləˌɡoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “archipelago” in a sentence?
Here is “archipelago” used in a sentence: “The Philippines is an archipelago made up of more than 7,000 islands.”
What part of speech is “archipelago”?
“Archipelago” is a noun.
Where does the word “archipelago” come from?
The word “archipelago” comes from Italian. From Italian arcipelago, originally referring to the Aegean Sea, from arci- ("chief") plus pelago ("sea").
Is “archipelago” a common word?
“Archipelago” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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