thedarkcontinent
nounUK /ðə dɑːk ˈkɒntɪnənt/
US /ðə dɑːrk ˈkɑːntɪnənt/
A nickname for Africa, used long ago because people far away knew little about it.
In old books, explorers wrote about traveling to the dark continent.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A phrase sometimes used in history books to describe Africa during the age of exploration.
The chapter on the dark continent explained how maps of Africa changed over time.
3. An old-fashioned nickname that many people now consider unfair and outdated.
Today, teachers explain why the dark continent is not a respectful name for Africa.
4. A term used in some stories to mean a faraway, mysterious land.
The adventure tale sent its hero to a place the villagers called the dark continent.