Meanings
proper noun
- The southern islands of the Lesser Antilles, composed of the island nations of Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago.
- The eastern islands of the Society Islands (French Polynesia), composed of Tahiti, Moorea and several private or small uninhabited islands.
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
Called windward because the prevailing winds in the area blow from east to west. Thus, the easternmost Windward Islands are upwind of the Leeward Islands, and are the islands of the Lesser Antilles that first meet the trade winds coming from the east.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan illes de Sobrevent
- illes de Sobreventthe southern islands of the Lesser Antilles
Chinese Mandarin 向風群島 /向风群岛
- 向風群島 /向风群岛 (Xiàngfēng Qúndǎo)the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles
Dutch Bovenwindse Eilanden
- Bovenwindse Eilandenthe southern islands of the Lesser Antilles
Estonian Tuulepealsed saared
- Tuulepealsed saaredthe southern islands of the Lesser Antilles
French îles du Vent méridionales
- îles du Vent méridionalesthe southern islands of the Lesser Antilles
Hungarian Szél felőli szigetek
- Szél felőli szigetekthe southern islands of the Lesser Antilles
Polish Wyspy Nawietrzne
- Wyspy Nawietrznethe southern islands of the Lesser Antilles
Portuguese Ilhas de Barlavento, Ilhas Barlavento
- Ilhas de Barlaventothe southern islands of the Lesser Antilles
- Ilhas Barlaventothe southern islands of the Lesser Antilles
Cite this entry
APA
Windward Islands. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Windward%20Islands
MLA
“Windward Islands.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Windward%20Islands. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Windward Islands,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Windward%20Islands.
Source: Windward Islands on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.