Dominica

IPA/dəˈmɪn.ɪ.kə/
KK[dəmˈɪnɪkə]IPA/ˌdɑː.mɪˈniː.kə/

Dominica — noun

1. a country that occupies an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, between the isla

1.nounB1
Definition

a country that occupies an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, between the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Dominica is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and is known for its volcanic landscape, rainforests, and rivers. It became independent from Britain in 1978, and its capital is Roseau.

Example

Arjun is planning a trip to Dominica next year to hike through its rainforests.

trip to [country] + infinitive for purpose

Nia spent two weeks in Dominica learning about its Creole culture and volcanic landscape.

Common collocations
  • the island of Dominica
  • the Commonwealth of Dominica
  • visit Dominica
  • the capital of Dominica

Usage Note

Always capitalised. Not to be confused with the Dominican Republic — a different country in the Caribbean that shares the same first three letters but is not the same place.

Common Mistakes

I am going to the Dominica next month.
I am going to Dominica next month.
Country names usually do not take a definite article.
We visited the Dominican Republic and Dominica in one trip.' (correct, but be clear they are two separate countries)
We visited both the Dominican Republic and Dominica on the same trip.
Adding 'both' helps signal two distinct destinations.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Dominica (pronounced /ˌdɒmɪˈniːkə/) and the Dominican Republic (/dəˌmɪnɪkən rɪˈpʌblɪk/) are two separate countries often confused because of similar spelling. The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti and is much larger in both area and population. St. Lucia and Grenada are closer neighbours to Dominica in the eastern Caribbean — all three are volcanic islands with rainforests, but Dominica is less developed for tourism and more famous for its untouched nature and hot springs. While the others have white-sand beach resorts, Dominica attracts hikers and eco-tourists drawn to its mountains and boiling lake.

Dominican RepublicSt. LuciaGrenada ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the island of Dominica
  • the Commonwealth of Dominica
  • the government of Dominica
  • the capital of Dominica
  • the people of Dominica

Phrases

  • the Nature Island

Prepositions

  • in Dominica
  • to Dominica
  • from Dominica

Etymology

LatinSpanishEnglish

From Latin 'dies Dominica' meaning 'the Lord's Day' (Sunday). The explorer Christopher Columbus sighted the island on a Sunday, 3 November 1493, on his second voyage to the Americas, and named it after the day of the week.