barbados

IPA/bɑːˈbeɪ.dɒs/
KK[bɑrbˈedos]IPA/bɑːrˈbeɪ.doʊs/

barbados — noun

1. an island country in the Caribbean Sea, east of the Windward Islands, known for

1.nounA2
Definition

an island country in the Caribbean Sea, east of the Windward Islands, known for its beaches, warm climate, and tourism industry.

Example

Xiu spent two weeks in Barbados learning to sail.

in + [country] as destination

The warm waters around Barbados are home to many sea turtles.

around + [country] describing location

Common collocations
  • in Barbados
  • to Barbados
  • from Barbados
  • visit Barbados
  • Barbados beach
  • Barbados tourism
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

Barbados as subject

in/from/to Barbados as location

Usage Note

Barbados is treated as a singular proper noun. It does not take an article unless referring to the island specifically ("the island of Barbados"). The adjective form is Barbadian.

Common Mistakes

I went to the Barbados last year.
I went to Barbados last year.
Country names rarely take 'the' unless the name is a plural or includes a political term (the Philippines, the United Kingdom).

2. a sovereign state that was part of the British Empire and is now a member of the

2.nounB1
Definition

a sovereign state that was part of the British Empire and is now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, with Bridgetown as its capital.

Example

Barbados became a republic in 2021, replacing the British monarch as head of state.

Barbados + became + [political status]

The government of Barbados has focused on renewable energy projects.

the government of + [country]

Common collocations
  • the government of Barbados
  • the people of Barbados
  • history of Barbados
  • Barbados became
  • Barbados has
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

Barbados as subject referring to government

Barbados + singular verb

Usage Note

In political contexts, Barbados takes a singular verb: "Barbados is a member of the Commonwealth." Distinguish from sense 1 — this sense refers to the country as a political entity, not the geographical location.

Common Mistakes

Barbados are planning to expand trade.
Barbados is planning to expand trade.
Unlike some collective nouns, country names take singular verbs in English.

Word family

  • Barbadian
    adjectiveB1
  • Barbadian
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four Caribbean island nations are all tourist destinations with warm climates and beach culture, but each has distinct features. Barbados is the easternmost island of the Caribbean, known for its stable economy and high literacy rate. Jamaica is larger and famous for reggae music and its Blue Mountain coffee. Trinidad and Tobago is an oil-rich two-island nation with a strong carnival tradition. The Bahamas, north of the Caribbean proper, consists of hundreds of small islands and cays and is especially popular with travellers from the United States. A traveller might fly to Barbados for a quiet beach holiday, to Jamaica for music and mountain scenery, or to the Bahamas for snorkelling among many small islands.

Barbados ↗JamaicaTrinidad and Tobagothe Bahamas

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the island of Barbados
  • the people of Barbados
  • Barbados Carnival
  • Barbados dollar

Prepositions

Etymology

PortugueseEnglish

The name comes from Portuguese os barbados, meaning 'the bearded ones', referring to the bearded fig trees (Ficus citrifolia) that Portuguese explorers saw on the island in the 1500s. The trees have hanging aerial roots that look like beards.