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Definition of upington
upington
/ˈʌp.ɪŋ.tən/
Up · ing · ton
upington Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
South African A town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, situated on the banks of the Orange River, recognized for its extreme summer heat, viticulture, and as a major gateway to the Kalahari Desert.
Example
"During our road trip across the Northern Cape, we stopped in Upington to buy supplies before heading deeper into the Kalahari."
Word Origin & Etymology
Founded in 1884, the town was originally established as 'Olyvenhoutsdrift'. It was renamed in 1898 in honor of Sir Thomas Upington, who served as Attorney-General and Prime Minister of the Cape Colony.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Upington. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/upington