western sahara: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal (Geopolitical, Academic, News)
Quick answer
What does “western sahara” mean?
A disputed territory in North-West Africa, largely controlled by Morocco but claimed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A disputed territory in North-West Africa, largely controlled by Morocco but claimed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
A geopolitical region and former Spanish colony, known for its desert landscape, phosphate resources, and ongoing conflict over sovereignty and self-determination.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use the same term. Minor spelling differences may appear in surrounding text (e.g., 'centre' vs. 'center' in descriptions).
Connotations
Identical geopolitical connotations. The term is neutral and factual in both varieties.
Frequency
Frequency is tied to news cycles regarding the conflict, decolonisation, and regional politics, with no notable UK/US disparity.
Grammar
How to Use “western sahara” in a Sentence
[Verb] + Western Sahara (e.g., control, occupy, recognise, leave, visit)[Preposition] + Western Sahara (e.g., in, from, to, regarding, about)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “western sahara” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The UN seeks to mediate the dispute over who should govern Western Sahara.
- Morocco has administered much of Western Sahara for decades.
American English
- The U.S. has not recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
- Several nations have recognized the SADR as governing Western Sahara.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of natural resource extraction (phosphates) or geopolitical risk assessment.
Academic
Frequent in political science, international law, geography, and African studies texts.
Everyday
Low frequency, typically encountered in news reports about international disputes.
Technical
Used in cartography, UN documents, and international legal proceedings.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “western sahara”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “western sahara”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “western sahara”
- Using 'Sahara' alone to refer to it (ambiguous).
- Incorrect capitalisation ('western sahara').
- Treating it as a sovereign country in lists without qualification.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a disputed territory. While the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) claims it and is recognised by some states, Morocco controls most of it and considers it part of its kingdom. The UN does not list it as a sovereign member state.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. It is the state proclaimed by the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara.
Due to its strategic location, phosphate reserves, fishing rights, and the principle of self-determination in international law. The conflict affects regional stability in the Maghreb.
The areas under Moroccan control are accessible to tourists, often as part of tours to the Moroccan Sahara. Travel to the Polisario-controlled areas (the narrow strip east of the Moroccan Wall) is heavily restricted and not advised for casual tourism.
A disputed territory in North-West Africa, largely controlled by Morocco but claimed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
Western sahara is usually formal (geopolitical, academic, news) in register.
Western sahara: in British English it is pronounced /ˌwestən səˈhɑːrə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌwestərn səˈhærə/ or /ˌwestərn səˈhɑːrə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Western Sahara situation (rare, meaning a protracted, unresolved territorial dispute)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'West of the main Sahara Desert' – a western part of the great Sahara that became a distinct political entity.
Conceptual Metaphor
A geopolitical chessboard; a frozen conflict; the last colony (in Africa).
Practice
Quiz
What is the historical colonial power of Western Sahara?