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Balkan

American  
[bawl-kuhn] / ˈbɔl kən /

adjective

  1. pertaining to the Balkan States or their inhabitants.

  2. pertaining to the Balkan Peninsula.

  3. pertaining to the Balkan Mountains.


noun

  1. the Balkans. Balkan States.

Balkan British  
/ ˈbɔːlkən /

adjective

  1. of, denoting, or relating to the Balkan States or their inhabitants, the Balkan Peninsula, or the Balkan Mountains

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of Balkan

First recorded in 1825–35

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:

Balkan countries are seeing extreme heat too, with up to 39C forecast in Serbia over the weekend.

From BBC Jun. 26, 2026

But their footballing reputation is now so established the Balkan nation are benefiting from a diaspora wanting to pull on the red and white checked shirt.

From BBC Jun. 17, 2026

Since the war began, both Ukraine and Moldova have joined the queue of countries seeking accession alongside Balkan hopefuls: Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

From Barron's Jun. 5, 2026

During the EU-Western Balkans Summit, senior bloc figures repeatedly pushed the need to speed up the accession process for candidate countries -- including six Balkan nations.

From Barron's Jun. 5, 2026

The little Balkan nation of Bulgaria, watching the Italian and Russian setbacks, threw in its lot with the Central Powers.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

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