(click for larger image in new window) A country of western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea. Divided into various isolated kingdoms at the time of European discovery in the 15th century, it was organized as a French colony in 1893, became a part of French West Africa in 1904, and declared its independence in 1960. Yamoussoukro is the capital and Abidjan is the largest city and de facto administrative center. Population: 18,000,000. I·vo'ri·an (ī-vôr'ē-ən, ī-vōr'-), I·voir'i·an (ē-vwär'ē-ən) adj. & n.
I·vo·ri·an (ī-vôr'ē-ən) n. A native or inhabitant of Côte d'Ivoire. I·vo'ri·an, I·voir'i·an adj.