Belize

[buh-leez]

noun

1. Formerly British Honduras. a parliamentary democracy in northern Central America: a former British crown colony; gained independence 1981. 8,867 sq. mi. (22,966 sq. km). Belmopan.

2. Also called Belize City. a seaport in and the main city of Belize.

3. a river flowing northeast through Belize to the Gulf of Honduras. 180 miles (290 km) long.

Belize

/ bəˈliːz /

noun

1. Former name (until 1973): British Honduras. a state in Central America, on the Caribbean Sea: site of a Mayan civilization until the 9th century _ad ; colonized by the British from 1638; granted internal self-government in 1964; became an independent state within the Commonwealth in 1981. Official language: English; Carib and Spanish are also spoken. Currency: Belize dollar. Capital: Belmopan. Pop: 334 297 (2013 est). Area: 22 965 sq km (8867 sq miles)

Other Word Forms

• Belizean adjective

Example Sentences

The small Central American nation of Belize has signed an agreement with Washington to act as a "safe third country" for migrants as they seek asylum in the United States.

Read more on BBC

His father was a Marine for 20 years and came here as a teenager from Belize.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She was a Fulbright Scholar in Ghana, and loved to travel - including on study abroad trips with students in Italy and had planned trips to Iceland and Belize.

Read more on BBC

After starting their trip in Mexico, they have travelled through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia, before relocating to Thailand.

Read more on BBC

Garcia, whose father is Mexican and mother is from Belize, comes from a family that has worked hard to provide him with opportunities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times