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
Boat trips and water taxis to the outer islands start from Bocas Town, the archipelago’s colorful seaside capital.
—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
While the Catholic Church takes no official position on nuclear energy, bishops and priests across the archipelago have stressed the need for ecological stewardship, and a moral responsibility to prioritize human life over profit.
—
Lorela U. Sandoval,
Christian Science Monitor,
25 June 2026
In the Faroe Islands, Nature Rewards Patience The remote archipelago is welcoming more visitors every year—but a tempestuous climate and steadfast way of life encourage travelers to bend.
—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 June 2026
In its first-ever World Cup appearance, the team — hailing from an archipelago off the western coast of Africa with around 530,000 inhabitants — has left its fans giddy with success and its opponents, from the traditional powers of Spain and Uruguay, trudging off the field in shock.
—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for archipelago
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Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
While the Catholic Church takes no official position on nuclear energy, bishops and priests across the archipelago have stressed the need for ecological stewardship, and a moral responsibility to prioritize human life over profit.
—
Lorela U. Sandoval,
Christian Science Monitor,
25 June 2026
In the Faroe Islands, Nature Rewards Patience The remote archipelago is welcoming more visitors every year—but a tempestuous climate and steadfast way of life encourage travelers to bend.
—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 June 2026
In its first-ever World Cup appearance, the team — hailing from an archipelago off the western coast of Africa with around 530,000 inhabitants — has left its fans giddy with success and its opponents, from the traditional powers of Spain and Uruguay, trudging off the field in shock.
—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for archipelago
Cite this Entry
“Archipelago.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archipelago. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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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