Cuba

American  

[kyoo-buh, koo-bah] / ˈkyu bə, ˈku βɑ /

noun

1. a republic in the Caribbean, south of Florida: largest island in the West Indies. 44,218 sq. mi. (114,525 sq. km). Havana.

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Cuba British  

/ ˈkjuːbə /

noun

1. a republic and the largest island in the Caribbean, at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico: became a Spanish colony after its discovery by Columbus in 1492; gained independence after the Spanish-American War of 1898 but remained subject to US influence until declared a people's republic under Castro in 1960; subject of an international crisis in 1962, when the US blockaded the island in order to compel the Soviet Union to dismantle its nuclear missile base. Sugar comprises about 80 per cent of total exports; the economy was badly affected by loss of trade following the collapse of the Soviet Union and by the continuing US trade embargo. Language: Spanish. Religion: nonreligious majority. Currency: peso. Capital: Havana. Pop: 11 061 886 (2013 est). Area: 110 922 sq km (42 827 sq miles)

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Cuba Cultural  

1. Republic consisting of the island of Cuba and other nearby islands. It lies in the Caribbean Sea at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico. Its capital and largest city is Havana.

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Discover More

The sinking of the United States battleship Maine in Havana harbor led to the Spanish-American War in 1898.

In 1961, under the administration of John F. Kennedy, American-trained Cuban exiles attempted to invade Cuba, landing at the Bay of Pigs, only to be easily defeated by Castro's forces. The Kennedy administration was sharply criticized for the Bay of Pigs fiasco.

In 1980, Cuban refugees began pouring into the United States when Castro allowed free emigration.

Fidel Castro took control of the Cuban government in 1959. The United States broke off relations with Cuba in 1961, after Castro exhibited strong left-wing leanings, established a system of military justice, and confiscated American investments in banks, industries, and land. Cuba then formed a close attachment to the Soviet Union.

The collapse of communism in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union has left Cuba as one of the last communist states.

The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 occurred as a result of a Soviet buildup of medium-range missiles (capable of striking targets in the United States) in Cuba.

Other Word Forms

• Cuban
  adjective

Example Sentences

He fielded a series of questions on Iran, Cuba and China with a relaxed style and dashes of humor -- and little of the invective that Trump often unleashes in his briefing room appearances.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Trump officials said that, despite the tensions, the U.S. and Vatican have closely coordinated diplomatic efforts to seek the release of political prisoners and delivery of humanitarian aid to Cuba.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

In October 1962 the U.S. was directly, immediately threatened by the Soviet Union’s introduction of missiles to Cuba.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

In December, Romero León filed a petition for the federal court to review the legality of his detention, noting it was unlikely that Cuba would take him back.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

The southeastern United States, including Washington, D.C., was well within range from Cuba.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin