archipelago

noun

ar·​chi·​pel·​a·​go ˌär-kə-ˈpe-lə-ˌgō How to pronounce archipelago (audio)
ˌär-chə-
plural archipelagoes or archipelagos
1
: an expanse of water with many scattered islands
2
: a group of islands
3
: something resembling an archipelago
especially : a group or scattering of similar things
an archipelago of small parks within the city

Did you know?

The Greeks called it the Aegean Pelagos and the Italians referred to it as Arcipelago (meaning "chief sea"), but English speakers now call it the Aegean Sea. Numerous islands dot its expanse, and 16th-century English speakers adopted a modified form of its Italian name for any sea with a similar scattering of islands. In time, archipelago came to refer to the groups of islands themselves, and now it is often used figuratively, as in, for example, "an archipelago of high-rise buildings."

Examples of archipelago in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The archipelago nation has also been battered by two destructive typhoons this month. Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2025 Their interactions have created a complex network of fault lines across the archipelago. Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 Across the archipelago, companies such as 22Dogs, Derrotero, Flaming Frames and newcomers like Efectoscopio Blue and Carousel are proving that VFX work can thrive far from the traditional hubs. Callum McLennan, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025 Witness the unique wildlife and beautiful views of this archipelago from the sea. Jordan Harvey, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for archipelago

Word History

Etymology

Archipelago Aegean Sea, from Italian Arcipelago, literally, chief sea, from arci- (from Latin archi-) + Greek pelagos sea — more at plagal

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of archipelago was in 1598

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Cite this Entry

“Archipelago.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archipelago. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

archipelago

noun
ar·​chi·​pel·​a·​go ˌär-kə-ˈpel-ə-ˌgō How to pronounce archipelago (audio)
ˌär-chə-
plural archipelagoes or archipelagos
: a wide stretch of water with many scattered islands
also : a group of islands

More from Merriam-Webster on archipelago

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