Central America

American  

noun

1. continental North America, S of Mexico, usually considered as comprising Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. 227,933 sq. mi. (590,346 sq. km).

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Central America British  

noun

1. an isthmus joining the continents of North and South America, extending from the S border of Mexico to the NW border of Colombia and consisting of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Area: about 518 000 sq km (200 000 sq miles)

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Central America Cultural  

1. Region in the southernmost portion of North America, linked to South America by the Isthmus of Panama; includes Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

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The United States government has often taken the position that Central American affairs directly affect American interests. Accordingly, it has often provided financial and military aid to Central American governments and occasionally intervened militarily.

Countries in Central America (except for Belize and Costa Rica) are characterized by unstable governments and very low per capita income.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Central American
  noun

Example Sentences

The cases marked the first as part of an outbreak that's been moving through Central America and Mexico, which has been under heavy monitoring by US agricultural and health officials.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Efforts to delay the arrival of screwworm in the US have been under way since cases began increasing in Central America and Mexico.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

A: Literature is a tremendous asset for Central America.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Other research has shown that large swaths of the world are growing drier, including a “mega-drying” region that stretches from the western U.S. through Mexico to Central America.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

People in Central America cook corn with lime and serve it with beans.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan