Pakistan
Americannoun
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Islamic Republic of, a republic in S Asia, between India and Afghanistan: formerly part of British India; known as West Pakistan from 1947–71 to distinguish it from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). 310,403 sq. mi. (803,881 sq. km). Islamabad.
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(before 1947) the predominantly Muslim areas of the peninsula of India as distinguished from Hindustan, the predominantly Hindu areas.
noun
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a republic in S Asia, on the Arabian Sea: the Union of Pakistan, formed in 1947, comprised West and East Pakistan; East Pakistan gained independence as Bangladesh in 1971 and West Pakistan became Pakistan; a member of the Commonwealth from 1947, it withdrew from 1972 until 1989; contains the fertile plains of the Indus valley rising to mountains in the north and west Official language: Urdu. Official religion: Muslim. Currency: rupee. Capital: Islamabad. Pop: 193 238 868 (2013 est). Area: 801 508 sq km (309 463 sq miles)
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a former republic in S Asia consisting of the provinces of West Pakistan and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), 1500 km (900 miles) apart: formed in 1947 from the predominantly Muslim parts of India
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Pakistan became part of British India in 1857. When India gained its independence in 1947, Muslim leaders demanded a separate Muslim state, and the nation of Pakistan was established. Originally, Pakistan consisted of two regions, West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
In 2001, Pakistan's president allowed the United States to use his country as a base to attack Afghanistan for harboring Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda members.
In 1998, Pakistan successfully conducted tests of nuclear weapons.
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.
The kingdom has called for help from its military ally Pakistan and is scouring the globe for air defenses, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
It typically passes over Afghanistan—which under Taliban rule doesn’t provide active air-traffic control—and skirts active fighting along the Pakistan border.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
Pakistan, Somalia, Eritrea, Syria, Afghanistan and Sudan could be hit with visa bans under these measures.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
Afghanistan and Pakistan went to war in February and there have been sporadic attacks since a truce was reached in March with no permanent security resolution agreed.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
“If I do anything else wrong again...anything at all, then you can tell them everything. Please. My uncle is here from Pakistan and...,”
From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
