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Malta

American  
[mawl-tuh] / ˈmɔl tə /

noun

  1. an island in the Mediterranean between Sicily and Africa. 95 sq. mi. (246 sq. km).

  2. a former British colony consisting of this island and two small adjacent islands: now an independent sovereign state and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 122 sq. mi. (316 sq. km). Valletta.


Malta British  
/ ˈmɔːltə /

noun

  1. a republic occupying the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino, in the Mediterranean south of Sicily: governed by the Knights Hospitallers from 1530 until Napoleon's conquest in 1798; French driven out, with British help, 1800; became British dependency 1814; suffered severely in World War II; became independent in 1964 and a republic in 1974; joined the EU in 2004; a member of the Commonwealth. Official languages: Maltese and English. Official religion: Roman Catholic. Currency: euro (from January 2008 replacing the Maltese lira). Capital: Valletta. Pop: 411 277 (2013 est). Area: 316 sq km (122 sq miles)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Malta Cultural  
  1. Republic in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily, made up of five small islands.


Discover More

Malta, strategically located, has belonged to a succession of civilizations, including the ancient Greeks and the Roman Empire. In 1800, the British established control of Malta, which, since its independence in 1964, has continued to maintain close ties with Britain.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Fhimah worked for the carrier in Malta before the bombing of Pan Am 103.

From BBC Aug. 26, 2026

Delta started flying to Sardinia and Malta this summer, and announced plans to fly to the Philippines from Los Angeles next year.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 25, 2026

In Europe, the most popular residency programs, firms said, tend to be in Portugal and Malta.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 13, 2026

Caruana Galizia's family members - including three sons - were in the building to witness the start of the trial, according to the Times of Malta, external.

From BBC Jul. 1, 2026

“Why do people come to Malta for eggs when they’re so expensive there ?” “Because they’ve always done it that way.”

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

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