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

See Examples For:

Costa Rica

Earthquakes are rare in Panama and usually occur in the western Chiriqui province, bordering Costa Rica.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Scientists surveying underwater mountains off Costa Rica have identified a remarkable new coral that is unlike any known coral family.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

Nesting populations of olive ridley sea turtles are found in Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

A former vice president of Costa Rica, Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis, has so far won two of three secret ballots, but her level of support among members of the P5 is unknown.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Bactris gasipaes was in Costa Rica 1,700 to 2,300 years ago and probably earlier.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann