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

In recent years, the screwworm has started appearing again in parts of Central America and southern Mexico.

From Science Daily

The journey first took them to Costa Rica, in Central America, then to Senegal in West Africa, before flying to Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

From BBC

Visiting the Welsh Guards has become an annual fixture for the prince, a connection which dates back to his 2003 gap year when he accompanied them in the jungles of Belize in Central America.

From BBC

In recent years, undocumented Hondurans have been at the forefront of the U.S.-bound migration wave from Central America.

From The Wall Street Journal

Few people realize that these birds spend most of their lives much farther south, relying on the lush and often remote forests of Central America to survive the rest of the year.

From Science Daily