Costa Rica

American  

[kos-tuh ree-kuh, kaw-stuh, koh-, kaws-tah ree-kah] / ˈkɒs tə ˈri kə, ˈkɔ stə, ˈkoʊ-, ˈkɔs tɑ ˈri kɑ /

noun

1. a republic in Central America, between Panama and Nicaragua. 19,238 sq. mi. (49,825 sq. km). San José.

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Costa Rica British  

/ ˈkɒstə ˈriːkə /

noun

1. a republic in Central America: gained independence from Spain in 1821; mostly mountainous and volcanic, with extensive forests. Official language: Spanish. Official religion: Roman Catholic. Currency: colón. Capital: San José. Pop: 4 695 942 (2013 est). Area: 50 900 sq km (19 652 sq miles)

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Costa Rica Cultural  

1. Republic in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the south and west. Its capital and largest city is San José.

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One of the most politically stable countries of Latin America; Costa Rica is traditionally very democratic. It has a literacy rate of over ninety percent.

Other Word Forms

• Costa Rican noun

Example Sentences

A mother sloth shelters her baby from a downpour at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Free-diving off Costa Rica, Gabillon found herself in a vast superpod of spinner dolphins herding lanternfish.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

In addition to Shenzhen, it also has operations in Germany, Austria and Costa Rica, according to securities filings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

"Costa Rica has taught me a lot. It's a country that I not only love dearly, but I admire," she said.

From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026

I know Sam is back from Costa Rica.

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson