Ecuador

American  

[ek-wuh-dawr] / ˈɛk wəˌdɔr /

noun

1. a republic in northwestern South America. 109,483 sq. mi. (283,561 sq. km). Quito.

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Ecuador British  

/ ˈɛkwəˌdɔː /

noun

1. a republic in South America, on the Pacific: under the Incas when Spanish colonization began in 1532; gained independence in 1822; declared a republic in 1830. It consists chiefly of a coastal plain in the west, separated from the densely forested upper Amazon basin (Oriente) by ranges and plateaus of the Andes. Official language: Spanish; Quechua is also widely spoken. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: US dollar. Capital: Quito. Pop: 15 439 429 (2013 est). Area: 283 560 sq km (109 483 sq miles)

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Ecuador Cultural  

1. Republic in western South America, bordered by Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its landscape is dominated by the Andes. Quito is its capital, and Guayaquil is its largest city.

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Other Word Forms

• Ecuadoran adjective
• Ecuadorean adjective
• Ecuadorian adjective
• anti-Ecuador adjective
• pro-Ecuador adjective

Example Sentences

For example, earlier this year, the couple wrote about how they live an upscale lifestyle abroad in Ecuador on a Social Security budget.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

“If you wait until after you graduate,” said Castellano, a first-generation college student whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Ecuador and Venezuela, “all the good ideas are going to be already taken.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

The Maguro left from Mexico's Yucatan peninsula Friday carrying 32 people, including activists from Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, Italy, Mexico and the United States, and AFP journalists.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Attorneys for the Ramos family have appealed the decision, but if that appeal is unsuccessful the family could be deported to Ecuador.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

Atawallpa dug his way out, escaped to Ecuador, reassembled his army, and drove his foes south.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann