Leeward Islands

proper noun

The northern of the Lesser Antilles, consisting of the islands or nations of the Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Barbuda, Antigua, Montserrat and Guadeloupe.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. The northern of the Lesser Antilles, consisting of the islands or nations of the Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Barbuda, Antigua, Montserrat and Guadeloupe.
  2. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
northwestern hawaiian islands

Origin

Called leeward because the prevailing winds in the area blow from east to west. Thus, the Leeward Islands are downwind, or leeward of, the easternmost Windward Islands, the group of islands that first meet the trade winds coming from the east.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan illes de Sotavent
  • illes de SotaventIsland group
Chinese Mandarin 背風群島 /背风群岛
  • 背風群島 /背风群岛 (Bèifēng Qúndǎo)Island group
Finnish Leewardsaaret
  • LeewardsaaretIsland group
French îles Sous-le-Vent, îles du Vent septentrionales
  • îles Sous-le-VentIsland group
  • îles du Vent septentrionalesIsland group
Greek Υπήνεμες Νήσοι
  • Υπήνεμες Νήσοι (Ypínemes Nísoi)Island group
Irish Oileáin na Fothana
  • Oileáin na FothanaIsland group
Polish Leeward Islands, Wyspy Podwietrzne
  • Leeward IslandsIsland group
  • Wyspy PodwietrzneIsland group
Cite this entry
APA

Leeward Islands. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Leeward%20Islands

MLA

“Leeward Islands.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Leeward%20Islands. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Leeward Islands,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Leeward%20Islands.

Source: Leeward Islands on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.