ar;chi;pel;a;go pronunciation: function: noun inflected form(s): plural ar;chi;pel;a;goes or ar;chi;pel;a;gosetymology: archipelago aegean sea, from italian arcipelago, literally, chief sea, from arci- (from latin archi-) + greek pelagos sea — more at plagaldate: 1589 1 : an expanse of water with many scattered islands2 : a group of islands3 : something resembling an archipelago; especially : a group or scattering of similar things lt;an archipelago of small parks within the citygt;