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Definition of ivory coast
ivory coast
Adjective:Ivorian
ivory coast Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
A country located on the southern coast of West Africa, bordered by Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana, renowned as a major global producer of cocoa.
Example
"Yamoussoukro is the political capital of the Ivory Coast, while Abidjan remains its largest economic hub."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although 'Ivory Coast' is commonly used in English, the country's government officially requests the use of its French name, 'Côte d'Ivoire', in all languages and international contexts.
Word Origin & Etymology
A literal translation of the French 'Côte d'Ivoire', named by 15th- and 16th-century French and Portuguese explorers for the region's historic trade in elephant ivory.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ivory coast. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ivory coast