Guyana

American  

[gahy-an-uh, -ah-nuh] / gaɪˈæn ə, -ˈɑ nə /

noun

1. an independent republic on the northeastern coast of South America: a former British protectorate; gained independence 1966; member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 82,978 sq. mi. (214,913 sq. km). Georgetown.

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Guyana British  

/ ɡaɪˈænə /

noun

1. Former name (until 1966): British Guiana.  a republic in NE South America, on the Atlantic: colonized chiefly by the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries; became a British colony in 1831 and an independent republic within the Commonwealth in 1966. Official language: English. Religions: Christian and Hindu. Currency: dollar. Capital: Georgetown. Pop: 739 903 (2013 est). Area: about 215 000 sq km (83 000 sq miles)

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Other Word Forms

• Guyanese noun

Example Sentences

The state also relies mostly on crude oil imported from other countries including Brazil, Iraq and Guyana and processed at in-state refineries.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

The Paris Agreement authorities in Rwanda, Malawi, Cambodia, Ghana, Guyana and Sri Lanka didn’t respond to a request for comment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Investor focus is now shifting overseas, as Chevron grows faster in Kazakhstan, Guyana and potentially Venezuela.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

It is an eclectic and international vision, with the film sweeping around examples of harmony in places including India, Guyana and Afghanistan.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

The Demerara is a river in Guyana, but the word was also used to refer to a region, and even to the colony itself.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson