- The Gambia ⇒ a republic in W Africa, entirely surrounded by Senegal except for an outlet to the Atlantic: sold to English merchants by the Portuguese in 1588; became a British colony in 1843; gained independence and was a member of the Commonwealth between 1965 and 2013; joined with Senegal to form the Confederation of Senegambia (1982–89); consists of a strip of land about 16 km (10 miles) wide, on both banks of the Gambia River, extending inland for about 480 km (300 miles). Official language: English. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: dalasi. Capital: Banjul. Pop: 2 100 568 (2017 est). Area: 11 295 sq km (4361 sq miles)
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Gam•bi•a
(gam′bē ə),USA pronunciation n.
- Place Namesa river in W Africa, flowing W to the Atlantic. 500 mi. (800 km) long.
- Place Names The, a republic extending inland along both sides of this river: formerly a British crown colony and protectorate;
gained independence 1965;
member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 1,248,085;
4003 sq. mi. (10,368 sq. km). Cap.: Banjul.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Gambia /ˈɡæmbɪə/ n
'Gambia' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Banjul
- British West Africa
- Gambian
- Guinea
- Jawara
- Senegal
- Senegambia
- Senegambia Confederation
- butut
- dalasi
- Malinke