Mar·ti·nique (mär'tĭ-nēk', -tn-ēk') An island and overseas department of France in the Windward Islands of the West Indies. Inhabited first by Arawaks and later by Caribs, the island was visited by Columbus in 1502. It was colonized by French settlers after 1635. Fort-de-France is the capital. Population: 436,000. Mar'ti·ni'can adj. & n.