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

However, the parasitic fly has been steadily moving north from Central America to Mexico since 2023.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

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

"While that sounds like a good thing, for Central America that leads to a lot less rainfall and potentially drought conditions," according to Prof Stephens.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

In the March quarter, organic revenue increased 8.1% from a year earlier, driven by strength in South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and the Brazil beer segment.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

Whatever the origin, people domesticated the species thousands of years ago and then spread it rapidly, first through Amazonia and then up into the Caribbean and Central America.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann