a group of over 200 islands in the SW Pacific, northeast of New Guinea: part of Papua New Guinea. Main islands: New Britain, New Ireland, Lavongai, and the Admiralty Islands. Chief town: Rabaul, on New Britain. Pop: 566 610 (2000). Area: 49 658 sq km (19 173 sq miles)
Bismarck Archipelago in American English
group of islands north and east of New Guinea; part of Papua New Guinea: 19,200 sq mi (49,728 sq km)