Word
caribbean
Phoneticscar·ib·bean
/ˌkɛɹɪˈbiən/
Definitions
01the region
n. the area of the world that includes the Caribbean Sea and all its islands.
n. the geographical region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (the West Indies), and the surrounding coasts of Central and South America.
“Many people dream of going on a cruise around the Caribbean during the winter.”
“The Caribbean is a diverse region where various European colonial histories have blended with African and indigenous traditions.”
Usage
Always capitalized and usually used with the definite article 'the'.
Synonyms
02relating to the region
adj. related to the islands, people, or culture of the Caribbean.
adj. pertaining to the Caribbean Sea, its islands, or the inhabitants and cultures of that region.
“I love listening to Caribbean music like reggae and calypso.”
“The restaurant specializes in authentic Caribbean cuisine, featuring spicy jerk chicken and fresh tropical fruits.”
Usage
Always capitalized; functions as a proper adjective.
Etymology
From Carib or Caribe, a people who lived in the West Indies, + -an.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.