Benin

[ be-neen ]

noun
  1. Formerly Dahomey. a republic in W Africa: formerly part of French West Africa; gained independence in 1960. 44,290 sq. mi. (114,711 sq. km). Capital: Porto Novo.

  2. Bight of, a bay in N Gulf of Guinea in W Africa.

  1. a former native kingdom in W Africa: now incorporated into Nigeria.

  2. a river in S Nigeria, flowing into the Bight of Benin.

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British Dictionary definitions for Benin

Benin

/ (bɛˈniːn) /


noun
  1. a republic in W Africa, on the Bight of Benin, a section of the Gulf of Guinea: in the early 19th century a powerful kingdom, famed for its women warriors; became a French colony in 1893, gaining independence in 1960. It consists chiefly of coastal lagoons and swamps in the south, a fertile plain and marshes in the centre, and the Atakora Mountains in the northwest. Official language: French. Religion: animist majority. Currency: franc. Capital: Porto Novo (the government is based in Cotonou). Pop: 9 877 292 (2013 est). Area: 112 622 sq km (43 474 sq miles): Former name (until 1975): Dahomey

  2. a former kingdom of W Africa, powerful from the 14th to the 17th centuries: now a province of S Nigeria: noted for its bronzes

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