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Glite Dictionary
Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island

5.1
An island territory of Australia east of the mainland in the Pacific Ocean once used as a British prison colony
  • proper noun
translation icon : Isla Norfolk
  • Norfolk Island was once used by the British as a penal colony in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Examples

  • Norfolk Island, known for its beautiful landscapes, is a popular destination for Norfolk Island tourists.

  • The citizens of Norfolk Island have a distinctive culture influenced by British and Polynesian heritage.

  • Many tourists visit Norfolk Island to enjoy its natural beauty and unique history.

  • I visited Norfolk Island last summer.

  • Have you ever been to Norfolk Island?

  • In 1856, Norfolk Island was established as a self-governing territory of Australia.

  • Many historical remnants from its time as a penal colony can still be found on Norfolk Island.

Surface Forms

Norfolk Island main

Morphology

Norfolk + island

This is a straightforward place-name construction (proper name + 'island'), so a B1 learner who knows 'island' will infer it refers to an island called Norfolk even if they do not know the specific location or history. While the precise geopolitical details (Australian territory, former penal colony) are not derivable from the parts, the basic referential meaning is compositionally clear.

Etymology

Norfolk Island was given its name by British sailors because Norfolk is a county in England and Island means land surrounded by sea, so the name shows a clear British link. Because the British later used it as a 'prison colony' in the 18th and 19th centuries, the name helps explain its British history and why it is now an Australian territory.