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Definition of johannesburg

johannesburg

/dʒoʊˈhænɪsbɜːrɡ/
Jo · han · nes · burg
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johannesburg Lexical Profile

• noun

1

The largest city in South Africa, located in the inland province of Gauteng. It is the country's primary financial, commercial, and industrial hub, originally established as a mining settlement during a late 19th-century gold rush.

Example

"During their trip to South Africa, they spent two days visiting historical museums and vibrant art galleries in Johannesburg."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for johannesburg

• Nearby Words

jocote
joe pye weed
jog falls
johannesburg
john day
john dory
johnny jump up

Word Origin & Etymology

Founded in 1886 following the discovery of gold, it was named after two prominent officials of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek: Christian Johannes Joubert and Johannes Rissik. The name combines 'Johannes' with the Afrikaans and Dutch suffix '-burg' meaning 'fortress' or 'town'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Johannesburg. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/johannesburg
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