banana republics

Cultural  

1. A term describing any of several small nations in Latin America that have economies based on a few agricultural crops.

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The term banana republic is often used in a disparaging sense; it suggests an unstable government.

Example Sentences

Guatemala is of course one of the so-called banana republics, whose national politics were subjugated for much of the 20th century to the interests of the United Fruit Company.

From New York Times • Nov. 23, 2021

I love what happens in banana republics - even one as gigantic as this one!

From New York Times • Jul. 1, 2016

In these banana republics, the caudillo exercises both executive and legislative powers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2015

Before 1962, if John Q. Nobody gave any thought to South America at all, it probably didn't range much beyond banana republics, fugitive Nazis and Carmen Miranda.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2012

Said the moderate Johannesburg Star: "Ciskei has become a byword for all the worst excesses of banana republics."

From Time Magazine Archive