Benin

geographical name

Be·​nin bə-ˈnēn 

-ˈnin;

ˈbe-nin

1

river about 100 miles (161 kilometers) long in southern Nigeria west of the Niger River flowing into the Bight of Benin

2

former kingdom of western Africa on the lower Niger River; incorporated into Nigeria after 1897

3

or formerly Dahomey

də-ˈhō-mē 

country of western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea; a republic, formerly a territory of French West Africa; official capital Porto-Novo, seat of government Cotonou area 43,484 square miles (112,622 square kilometers), population 11,341,000

4

or Benin City city in the western delta of the Niger River, southwestern Nigeria population 202,800

Beninese

bə-ˌni-ˈnēz 

-ˌnē-

-ˈnēs;

ˌbe-ni-ˈnēz

-ˈnēs

adjective or noun