Germany

American  

[jur-muh-nee] / ˈdʒɜr mə ni /

noun

1. a republic in central Europe: after World War II divided into four zones, British, French, U.S., and Soviet, and in 1949 into East Germany and West Germany; East and West Germany were reunited in 1990. 137,852 sq. mi. (357,039 sq. km). Berlin.

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Germany British  

/ ˈdʒɜːmənɪ /

noun

1. German name: Deutschland.  Official name: Federal Republic of Germany.  a country in central Europe: in the Middle Ages the centre of the Holy Roman Empire; dissolved into numerous principalities; united under the leadership of Prussia in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War; became a republic with reduced size in 1919 after being defeated in World War I; under the dictatorship of Hitler from 1933 to 1945; defeated in World War II and divided by the Allied Powers into four zones, which became established as East and West Germany in the late 1940s; reunified in 1990: a member of the European Union. It is flat and low-lying in the north with plateaus and uplands (including the Black Forest and the Bavarian Alps) in the centre and south. Official language: German. Religion: Christianity, Protestant majority. Currency: euro. Capital: Berlin. Pop: 81 147 265 (2013 est). Area: 357 041 sq km (137 825 sq miles) See also East Germany West Germany

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Germany Cultural  

1. Republic in north-central Europe, divided into East Germany and West Germany in 1949 and reunited in 1990. Officially called the Federal Republic of Germany.

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Discover More

After the defeat of the Nazis in World War II, Germany was divided into four zones occupied by British, French, Soviet, and American forces.

Since reunification Germany has become Europe's leading economic power. (See East Germany and West Germany under “World History since 1550.”)

Germany's industrial, colonial, and naval expansion was considered a threat by the British and French and was one of the main causes of World War I, in which Germany was badly defeated.

Germany was a collection of competing states until it was unified during the second half of the nineteenth century under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck.

Compare meaning

How does germany compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Germany vs. Netherlands
• Prussia vs. Germany

Example Sentences

Still, Fratzscher said that Germany had undergone economic upheavals before, and urged politicians and companies to try to ensure the economy emerges stronger.

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

"The loss of industrial jobs in Germany has accelerated in the past two years," Marcel Fratzscher, president of the DIW economic institute told AFP.

From Barron's • May 17, 2026

Although Alonso, who enjoyed a distinguished playing career and led Bayer Leverkusen to league and cup success in Germany, is an exciting appointment for supporters, there is also an acceptance he faces a difficult task.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Till Backhaus, the environment minister in the northern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, hailed the operation as a success and an "example for Germany of what can be done".

From BBC • May 16, 2026

With the land war deadlocked, Britain and Germany were each determined to achieve ultimate victory by winning the war at sea.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman