devil's island: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2)Historical/Literary, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “devil's island” mean?
A small, historically notorious island off the coast of French Guiana, used as a penal colony for political prisoners and hardened criminals from 1852 to 1953.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, historically notorious island off the coast of French Guiana, used as a penal colony for political prisoners and hardened criminals from 1852 to 1953.
A metaphor for any place of extreme punishment, suffering, isolation, or inescapable hardship. Used to symbolize a harsh, remote, or brutal environment, especially a prison or place of exile.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use it primarily in historical contexts and as a literary metaphor.
Connotations
Connotes historical brutality, the French penal system, and famous prisoners like Alfred Dreyfus. Figuratively, it implies extreme severity and hopelessness.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, encountered mainly in historical texts, literature, and figurative language.
Grammar
How to Use “devil's island” in a Sentence
be + like + Devil's Islandturn + NP + into + Devil's Islandcompare + NP + to + Devil's IslandVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “devil's island” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The regime effectively devil's-islanded its political opponents.
American English
- The company was accused of devil's-islanding whistleblowers in a remote warehouse.
adjective
British English
- The prison had a devil's-island reputation.
American English
- He described the camp as having a Devil's-Island-like atmosphere.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Figuratively, to describe a terribly managed, punitive, or isolated workplace: 'The new branch office felt like a corporate Devil's Island.'
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or criminological papers discussing penal systems, colonialism, or exile.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used hyperbolically: 'This dormitory is like Devil's Island!'
Technical
Not used in technical fields outside of specific historical or geographical references.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “devil's island”
- Using lowercase incorrectly when referring to the specific island (proper noun). Overusing the metaphor. Confusing it with 'Alcatraz' (a US prison island).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a real island (Île du Diable) off the coast of French Guiana in South America, part of the former French penal colony system.
Only when using it as a common noun in its metaphorical sense (e.g., 'that office is a devil's island'). When referring to the specific historical location, it must be capitalized as 'Devil's Island'.
Both were prison islands, but Devil's Island was a French penal colony known for its tropical disease, brutal forced labour, and virtual inescapability due to shark-infested waters and jungle. Alcatraz was a high-security federal prison in the USA.
It is a low-frequency, advanced vocabulary item. It is most useful for understanding historical texts, literature, and for employing vivid figurative language, not for daily conversation.
A small, historically notorious island off the coast of French Guiana, used as a penal colony for political prisoners and hardened criminals from 1852 to 1953.
Devil's island is usually historical/literary, figurative in register.
Devil's island: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdevlz ˈaɪlənd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdevlz ˈaɪlənd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's no Devil's Island (a humorous understatement implying a place is not that bad).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the DEVIL sending his worst prisoners to a remote ISLAND. The name itself tells the story: a devilish place on an island.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PLACE IS A PRISON; DIFFICULTY IS IMPRISONMENT; ISOLATION IS PUNISHMENT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern use of 'Devil's Island'?