What does Madagascar mean?

Definitions for Madagascar
ˌmæd əˈgæs kərmada·gas·car

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Madagascar.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. Madagascar, Republic of Madagascar, Malagasy Republicnoun

    a republic on the island of Madagascar; achieved independence from France in 1960

  2. Madagascarnoun

    an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa; the 4th largest island in the world

GCIDE

  1. Madagascarnoun

    An island in the Indian Ocean, about 240 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, governed as a single country, the Republic of Madagascar. It is the world's fourth-largest island, with a total area of 587,040 sq km, with 4,828 km of coastline. Once a French colony, it gained independence from France in 1960. The name of the government after independence was the Malagasy Republic.

Wiktionary

  1. Madagascarnoun

    A country and island of the east coast of Africa with capital Antananarivo. Official name: Republic of Madagascar.

  2. Etymology: From Madagascar, of uncertain origin, but possibly from Madageiscar, reputedly a corruption of popularized by Marco Polo.

Wikipedia

  1. Madagascar

    Madagascar (; Malagasy: Madagasikara, pronounced [ma.da.ga.si.kʲa.ra]), officially the Republic of Madagascar (Malagasy: Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, Malagasy pronunciation: [repuˈblikʲanʲ madaɡasʲˈkʲarə̥]; French: République de Madagascar) is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 kilometres (250 miles) off the coast of East Africa across the Mozambique Channel. At 592,800 square kilometres (228,900 sq mi), it is the world's second-largest island country, after Indonesia.Home to around 30 million people, it consists of the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world) and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from the Indian subcontinent around 90 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, it is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90% of its wildlife is endemic. Human settlement of Madagascar occurred during or before the mid first millennium AD by Austronesian peoples, presumably arriving on outrigger canoes from present-day Indonesia. These were joined around the 9th century AD by Bantu migrants crossing the Mozambique Channel from East Africa. Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life. The Malagasy ethnic group is often divided into 18 or more subgroups, of which the largest are the Merina of the central highlands. Until the late 18th century, the island of Madagascar was ruled by a fragmented assortment of shifting sociopolitical alliances. Beginning in the early 19th century, most of it was united and ruled as the Kingdom of Madagascar by a series of Merina nobles. The monarchy ended in 1897 when the island was absorbed into the French colonial empire, from which the island gained independence in 1960. The autonomous state of Madagascar has since undergone four major constitutional periods, termed republics. Since 1992, it has officially been governed as a constitutional democracy from its capital at Antananarivo. However, in a 2009 political crisis, president Marc Ravalomanana was made to resign and presidential power was transferred in March 2009 to Andry Rajoelina. Constitutional governance was restored in January 2014, when Hery Rajaonarimampianina was named president following a 2013 election deemed fair and transparent by the international community. Madagascar is a member of the United Nations, the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. Madagascar belongs to the group of least developed countries, according to the United Nations. Malagasy and French are both official languages of the state. Christianity is the country's predominant religion, but a significant minority still practice traditional faiths. Ecotourism and agriculture, paired with greater investments in education, health and private enterprise, are key elements of Madagascar's development strategy. Under Ravalomanana, these investments have produced substantial economic growth, but the benefits were not evenly spread throughout the population, producing tensions over the increasing cost of living and declining living standards among the poor and some segments of the middle class. The economy was weakened by the 2009 political crisis, and as of 2017, quality of life remains low for the majority of the population. Madagascar is experiencing an ongoing famine, which experts argue is the first to be caused entirely by climate change.

ChatGPT

  1. madagascar

    Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. It is the fourth largest island in the world and is known for its unique and diverse wildlife, much of which exists nowhere else on Earth. The country's main cities include Antananarivo, the capital, and Toamasina, the main port. The official languages are Malagasy and French. Its economy is based on agriculture, mining, fishing, and textile manufacturing. Despite its natural beauty, Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries, struggling with political instability, poverty, and poor healthcare infrastructure.

Wikidata

  1. Madagascar

    Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar and previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar, as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from India around 88 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90 percent of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human population. Initial human settlement of Madagascar occurred between 350 BCE and 550 CE by Austronesian peoples arriving on outrigger canoes from Borneo. These were joined around 1000 CE by Bantu migrants crossing the Mozambique Channel. Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life. The Malagasy ethnic group is often divided into eighteen or more sub-groups of which the largest are the Merina of the central highlands.

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

  1. Madagascar

    largest island in the world but two, in the Indian Ocean, 300 m. off the Mozambique coast, SE. Africa; is nearly three times the size of Great Britain, a plateau in the centre, with low, fertile, wooded ground round about; has many extinct volcanoes and active hot springs; the highest peak is Ankàratra (9000 ft.), in the centre; the NW. coast has some good harbours; there are 300 m. of lagoons on the E.; the biggest lake is Alaotra, and the rivers flow mostly W.; the climate is hot, with copious rains, except in the S.; rice, coffee, sugar, and vanilla are cultivated; many kinds of valuable timber grow in the forests, and these, with cattle, hides, and india-rubber, constitute the exports; gold, iron, copper, lead, and sulphur are found, and the natives are skilled in working metals; the Malagasys possess civilised institutions; slavery was abolished in 1879; a quarter of the population is Christian; the heathen section, though untruthful and immoral, are affectionate, courageous, and loyal; Antanànarìvo (100), the capital, is situated in the interior, and has many fine buildings; chief ports, Tamatave on the E. and Majunga on the NW. coasts; the island has been under French protection since 1890, and is a French colony since 1896.

U.S. National Library of Medicine

  1. Madagascar

    One of the Indian Ocean Islands off the southeast coast of Africa. Its capital is Antananarivo. It was formerly called the Malagasy Republic. Discovered by the Portuguese in 1500, its history has been tied predominantly to the French, becoming a French protectorate in 1882, a French colony in 1896, and a territory within the French union in 1946. The Malagasy Republic was established in the French Community in 1958 but it achieved independence in 1960. Its name was changed to Madagascar in 1975. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p714)

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer

  1. madagascar

    An island of the Indian Ocean, situated at some distance from the east coast of Africa, being separated from that continent by the channel of Mozambique. The French formed several settlements in different parts of the island in 1665, but they were repeatedly driven out by the natives. The English were also driven out of the island in 1836, and the old system of Fetichism was restored. Madagascar is at present governed by Ranavalona, a Christian.

Suggested Resources

  1. madagascar

    Song lyrics by madagascar -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by madagascar on the Lyrics.com website.

Etymology and Origins

  1. Madagascar

    A corruption of the native name Malagasay, the island of the Malagese or Malays.

Matched Categories

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Madagascar in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Madagascar in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of Madagascar in a Sentence

  1. President John Magufuli on Sunday:

    I'm communicating with Madagascar.

  2. Michelle Stocker:

    These are the oldest frogs from near the equator, the oldest frogs overall are roughly 250 million years old from Madagascar and Poland, but those specimens are from higher latitudes [than the Chinle frog] and not equatorial.

  3. Lillian Veri:

    We did, a long time ago,( a trip to) Madagascar, we had a National Geographic photographer, an anthropologist, a marine biologist. National Geographic's like being at a university for a week. National Geographic you can't get anywhere else.

  4. Patrice Charpentier:

    The southern portion of Madagascar (is) one of the poorest, one of the most vulnerable (regions), you don't have a lot of (seeds) that are brought from outside because there's not enough incentives for suppliers, who can say, 'I can come here and make good money by selling seeds'.

  5. Delphyne Dabezies:

    Friends thought we were crazy, even our closest friends said: 'Ridiculous, caviar in Madagascar – what's next, salmon in the desert?' Lots of them laughed.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Madagascar#1#8428#10000

Translations for Madagascar

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"Madagascar." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Madagascar>.

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