Van ‧ u ‧ a ‧ tu /ˌvænuˈɑːtuː/ BrE AmE
a country in the southwest Pacific Ocean, East of Australia, made up of a chain of ↑ volcanic islands. Population: 215,446 (2008). Capital: Vila. Vanuatu was formerly called the New Hebrides, and it is an independent member of the British Commonwealth.