Maldives

geographical name

Mal·​dives ˈmȯl-ˌdēvz How to pronounce Maldives (audio)
-ˌdīvz,
 also  ˈmal-,
-divz
low-lying islands (atolls) in the Indian Ocean south of the Laccadive Islands; a sultanate under British protection until 1965; now an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations; capital Male area 115 square miles (298 square kilometers), population 392,500
Maldivian adjective or noun

Dictionary Entries Near Maldives

Cite this Entry

“Maldives.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Maldives. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Maldives

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!