# Roanoke

/ˈɹoʊəˌnoʊk/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/roanoke
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

the name of a famous 'lost colony' in early American history where all the settlers disappeared. It is also the name of a city and a river in Virginia.

For teachers: refers to the Roanoke Colony, the first attempted English settlement in North America, which famously vanished between 1587 and 1590. Also designates a major city and river in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

## Examples

- Historians still wonder what happened to the people at Roanoke.
- The mystery of the Roanoke settlers remains one of the most enduring puzzles in the history of early colonial America.
- While the name is synonymous with the vanished sixteenth-century colony, modern Roanoke serves as a vital commercial and transport hub for the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountain region.

## Usage notes

- Usually functions as a proper noun; when referring to the historical event, it is often paired with 'colony' or 'mystery'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.