archipelago
noun
ar·chi·pel·a·go
ˌär-kə-ˈpe-lə-ˌgō 
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
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By combining the catamaran’s exclusivity and exceptional onboard service with Cookson’s unparalleled ability to tailor exceptional experiences, this collaboration offers an extraordinary way to explore the archipelago.
—
Rachel Ingram, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
But this archipelago in the South China Sea between Borneo and mainland Malaysia is one of Indonesia’s first marine conservation areas, with vibrant corals and a kaleidoscope of marine life accessible in less than 90 feet of water.
—Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025
Floating between Sicily and North Africa, this archipelago nation—about twice the size of Brooklyn—is known for its 300 days of sunshine, crystal-blue waters, megalithic temples, and handsome limestone architecture.
—Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
Japan Air Self-Defense Force The Sea of Japan separates Russia's far eastern regions from the Japanese archipelago and the Korean Peninsula.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
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Rachel Ingram, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
But this archipelago in the South China Sea between Borneo and mainland Malaysia is one of Indonesia’s first marine conservation areas, with vibrant corals and a kaleidoscope of marine life accessible in less than 90 feet of water.
—Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025
Floating between Sicily and North Africa, this archipelago nation—about twice the size of Brooklyn—is known for its 300 days of sunshine, crystal-blue waters, megalithic temples, and handsome limestone architecture.
—Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
Japan Air Self-Defense Force The Sea of Japan separates Russia's far eastern regions from the Japanese archipelago and the Korean Peninsula.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for archipelago
Cite this Entry
“Archipelago.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archipelago. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
archipelago
noun
ar·chi·pel·a·go
ˌär-kə-ˈpel-ə-ˌgō
ˌär-chə-
plural archipelagoes or archipelagos
: a wide stretch of water with many scattered islands
also
: a group of islands
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