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
Recent Examples on the Web
Each offers its own geological and cultural highlights, ideal for travellers looking to explore deeper.
Solund: This outermost archipelago offers dramatic scenery, unique cultural experiences, and a true sense of isolation.
—
David Nikel, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Yet this small archipelago off Scotland’s west coast was inhabited for thousands of years.
—Pat Tompkins, AFAR Media, 9 June 2025
Eventually the archipelago was divided, with the western islands becoming the independent nation of Samoa and the eastern ones becoming American Samoa, overseen by the Navy.
—Mark Thiessen, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
The archipelago was thrown up by tectonic collision of the Pacific and North American plates and is named for the deep trough that separates them from the mainland.
—Paul Bersebach, Oc Register, 4 June 2025
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David Nikel, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Yet this small archipelago off Scotland’s west coast was inhabited for thousands of years.
—Pat Tompkins, AFAR Media, 9 June 2025
Eventually the archipelago was divided, with the western islands becoming the independent nation of Samoa and the eastern ones becoming American Samoa, overseen by the Navy.
—Mark Thiessen, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
The archipelago was thrown up by tectonic collision of the Pacific and North American plates and is named for the deep trough that separates them from the mainland.
—Paul Bersebach, Oc Register, 4 June 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 15 Jun. 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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