Saipan

geographical name

Sai·pan sī-ˈpan

-ˈpän,

ˈsī-ˌpan,

-ˌpän

island of the western Pacific Ocean in the south central Mariana Islands area 47 square miles (122 square kilometers), population 48,220

Note: In 1920, Saipan was included in a Japanese mandate under the League of Nations. In World War II, it was captured by U.S. troops after fierce fighting during June and July of 1944. It served as a major American air base from November 1944 until the end of the war.

Saipanese

ˌsī-pə-ˈnēz

-ˈnēs

adjective or noun