Australia

American  

[aw-streyl-yuh] / ɔˈstreɪl yə /

noun

1. a continent southeast of Asia, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. 2,948,366 square miles (7,636,270 square kilometers).

2. Commonwealth of Australia, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, consisting of the federated states and territories of Australia and Tasmania. 2,974,581 square miles (7,704,165 square kilometers). Canberra.

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Australia British  

/ ɒˈstreɪlɪə /

noun

1. a country and the smallest continent, situated between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific: a former British colony, now an independent member of the Commonwealth, constitutional links with Britain formally abolished in 1986; consists chiefly of a low plateau, mostly arid in the west, with the basin of the Murray River and the Great Dividing Range in the east and the Great Barrier Reef off the NE coast. Official language: English. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: dollar. Capital: Canberra. Pop: 23 029 674 (2013 est). Area: 7 682 300 sq km (2 966 150 sq miles)

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Australia Cultural  

1. Nation occupying the whole of Australia, the smallest continent, between the Indian Ocean and the southwest Pacific Ocean. Its capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney.

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Discover More

The first settlements there were penal colonies for British convicts.

Its aboriginal tribes, which still exist today (see aborigines), are thought to have migrated from Southeast Asia twenty thousand years ago.

Compare meaning

How does australia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Oceania vs. Australia

Example Sentences

A major fire at Viva Energy’s Geelong oil refinery in Australia heightened concerns about the country’s oil product supply.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

At the weekend, Bowen said Australia has the equivalent of around 38 days’ use of gasoline, 31 days’ worth of diesel and 28 days’ worth of jet fuel available.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

They played brilliantly together in the quarter-final with France at the Queen's Club, then a five-set, four-hour semi-final match with Australia, before seeing off the Belgian pair as Britain won the title in Ghent.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

A former US Marine wanted by Washington over allegations he illegally trained Chinese pilots is set to be extradited, after losing a bid to remain in Australia.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

She was in Australia too long for it to be a layover, but not long enough to really do anything.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti