Van·ua·tu (vän wä-t  , vän-ät) Formerly New Heb·ri·des (n h br -d z, ny) An island country of the southern Pacific Ocean east of northern Australia. Inhabited primarily by Melanesian peoples, the islands were first sighted by the Portuguese in 1606 and charted by Capt. James Cook in 1774. Under joint French and British control after 1906, New Hebrides achieved independence as Vanuatu in 1980. Port-Vila, on Efate Island, is the capital. Population: 212,000. Van uatu·an adj. & n. |   |
Vanuatu [ˈvænuːˌætuː]
n
(Placename) a republic comprising a group of islands in the W Pacific, W of Fiji: a condominium under Anglo-French joint rule from 1906; attained partial autonomy in 1978 and full independence in 1980 as a member of the Commonwealth. Its economy is based chiefly on copra. Official languages: Bislama; French; English. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: vatu. Capital: Vila (on Efate). Pop.: 195 000 (2001 est.). Area: about 14 760 sq. km (5700 sq. miles) Official name Republic of Vanuatu Former name (until 1980) New Hebrides
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  Vanuatu - a volcanic island republic in Melanesia; independent since 1980Melanesia - the islands in the southwestern part of Oceania |
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