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.

French lawmakers on Tuesday recognised the state's partial responsibility in allowing a toxic pesticide to be used in the French West Indies despite health warnings, inflicting long-term harm on the islands and their people.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

Ulva is one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Hebrides.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

Island gigantism occurs when animals isolated on islands become much larger than related species on the mainland.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

After his release in 2019, Dong attempted to leave China again, this time by swimming to Kinmen, a group of Taiwanese-controlled islands off the Chinese mainland.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

And because of its location, the islands are immensely valuable strategically for any nation that wants to dominate the Asian coast.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly