Definition

Proper noun: * Chief port of Benin on the Bight of Benin: Cotonou is the largest city and primary economic hub of the Republic of Benin, located on the coast of the Bight of Benin in the Gulf of Guinea.

Usage

• Cotonou serves as the de facto administrative capital and is the seat of government for Benin, although the official capital is Porto-Novo.
• The term is used to refer specifically to this city, its port, and its metropolitan area.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The ship docked at the busy port of Cotonou.
  • Many international organizations have their offices in Cotonou.
  • The economic growth of Benin is centered in Cotonou.

Advanced Usage

• "Cotonou Agreement": Refers to a series of partnership agreements between the European Union and the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP), initially signed in Cotonou in 2000.
  • The Cotonou Agreement is a comprehensive framework for development cooperation.

Variants and Related Words

• Benin: The country of which Cotonou is the largest city.
• Porto-Novo: The official constitutional capital of Benin.
• Bight of Benin: The bay on the Atlantic Ocean where Cotonou is situated.

Synonyms

• Economic capital (of Benin)
• Chief port (of Benin)
• Largest city (of Benin)

Noun

1. chief port of Benin on the Bight of Benin