islands

NOUN

land surrounded by body of water

Synonyms

STRONGEST

archipelago enclave isle islet peninsula reef

STRONG

atoll bar cay haven key refuge retreat sanctuary shelter

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Philippines invokes its geographical proximity to the Spratly Islands as the main basis of its claim for part of the grouping.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Britain kept control of the Chagos Islands after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

Many of the vessels that cross the strait fly common shipping flags such as those of Panama, the Marshall Islands, and Malta.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

The sea lion breeding and pupping season is fast approaching at main rookeries such as the Channel Islands, according to Giancarlo Rulli, associate director of public relations for the Marine Mammal Center.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

For the first time we saw the Falkland Islands themselves.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell