Central America

American  

noun

1. continental North America, S of Mexico, usually considered as comprising Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. 227,933 sq. mi. (590,346 sq. km).

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Central America British  

noun

1. an isthmus joining the continents of North and South America, extending from the S border of Mexico to the NW border of Colombia and consisting of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Area: about 518 000 sq km (200 000 sq miles)

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Central America Cultural  

1. Region in the southernmost portion of North America, linked to South America by the Isthmus of Panama; includes Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

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The United States government has often taken the position that Central American affairs directly affect American interests. Accordingly, it has often provided financial and military aid to Central American governments and occasionally intervened militarily.

Countries in Central America (except for Belize and Costa Rica) are characterized by unstable governments and very low per capita income.

Other Word Forms

• Central American
  noun

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Central America

Conversely, El Niño typically brings drier conditions to the Pacific Northwest, as well as Central America, northern South America, the Caribbean, Australia, Indonesia, and parts of southern Asia, experts said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

From the Andes to Central America, new leaders are taking power with populist mandates centered on free-market economic policies and iron-fisted security strategies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Governments across the dry countries of Central America have raised alert levels over El Nino.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

The turtle, which is native to North and Central America, was found at Penllegare Valley Woods, Swansea.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026

Together, they take injured migrants back to their hometowns in Central America when going by bus isn’t feasible.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario