Peru

American  

[puh-roo] / pəˈru /

noun

1. Spanish Perú. a republic in western South America. 496,222 sq. mi. (1,285,215 sq. km). Lima.

2. a city in north-central Indiana.

3. a city in northern Illinois.

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Peru British  

/ pəˈruː /

noun

1. a republic in W South America, on the Pacific: the centre of the great Inca Empire when conquered by the Spanish in 1532; gained independence in 1824 by defeating Spanish forces with armies led by San Martín and Bolívar; consists of a coastal desert, rising to the Andes; an important exporter of minerals and a major fishing nation. Official languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. Official religion: Roman Catholic. Currency: nuevo sol. Capital: Lima. Pop: 29 849 303 (2013 est). Area: 1 285 215 sq km (496 222 sq miles)

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Peru Cultural  

1. Republic in western South America, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Ecuador to the northwest, Colombia to the northeast, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, and Chile to the south. Its capital and largest city is Lima.

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Discover More

Peru was the heart of the Inca Empire, which flourished from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries. The remains of the empire include the fabled stone fortress of Machu Picchu.

Achieved independence from Spain in 1821.

Other Word Forms

• Peruvian
  adjective
• non-Peruvian
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Peru

Her food is rooted in Jordan, she explained, even as she incorporates techniques learned from chefs in Italy, Peru and Ecuador.

From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026

At 16 years and 363 days, the Philadelphia Union midfielder became the fourth youngest player to play for the USA - starting Saturday's 4-1 friendly win over Peru.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

The lengthy 16-day session will feature friendlies against Peru and Chile in September and against Mexico and Canada during the first week of October.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

By the middle of the 17th century, the Spanish had transported up to 300,000 African slaves to the Americas, mostly to Mexico and Peru.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

The choice was almost haphazard: Dobyns had never been to Peru.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann