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

DHS has been pushing to deport him to various African countries, despite his willingness to self-deport to Costa Rica, where he was promised a form of legal status.

From Slate • May 28, 2026

While at UNR, she traveled to Costa Rica to pursue a multimedia story on using leafcutter ants to create vaccines, and to Paris to report on the 2024 Summer Olympics.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

She added that she had last seen a new octopus in 2023, off the coast of Costa Rica.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

Abrego Garcia, through his lawyers, has said he is willing to go to Costa Rica.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

But of the many replies he might have made, he chose to remind Dick of the fortune awaiting them on Cocos Island, a land speck off the coast of Costa Rica.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote