Italy

American  

[it-l-ee] / ˈɪt l i /

noun

1. a republic in southern Europe, comprising a peninsula south of the Alps, and Sicily, Sardinia, Elba, and other smaller islands: a kingdom 1870–1946. 116,294 sq. mi. (301,200 sq. km). Rome.

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Italy British  

/ ˈɪtəlɪ /

noun

1. Italian name: Italia.  a republic in S Europe, occupying a peninsula in the Mediterranean between the Tyrrhenian and the Adriatic Seas, with the islands of Sardinia and Sicily to the west: first united under the Romans but became fragmented into numerous political units in the Middle Ages; united kingdom proclaimed in 1861; under the dictatorship of Mussolini (1922–43); became a republic in 1946; a member of the European Union. It is generally mountainous, with the Alps in the north and the Apennines running the length of the peninsula. Official language: Italian. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: euro. Capital: Rome. Pop: 61 482 297 (2013 est) Area: 301 247 sq km (116 312 sq miles)

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Italy Cultural  

1. Republic in southern Europe, jutting into the Mediterranean Sea as a boot-shaped peninsula, surrounded on the east, south, and west by arms of the Mediterranean, and bordered to the northwest by France, to the north by Switzerland and Austria, and to the northeast by Yugoslavia. The country includes the large islands of Sicily and Sardinia, as well as many smaller islands, such as Capri. Its capital and largest city is Rome.

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Discover More

Italian cooking, featuring pasta, has become a staple of the American diet.

Italy was the core of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire from the fourth century b.c. to the fifth century a.d.

Beginning in the fourteenth century, the Italian Renaissance brought Europe out of the Middle Ages with its outstanding contributions to the arts. To this day, Italy continues to be associated with great artistic achievement and is home to countless masterpieces.

Under the fascist leadership of Benito Mussolini (see fascism), Italy began colonization in Africa and entered a military alliance with Germany and Japan. These countries were known as the Axis powers in World War II.

Italy has been a member of NATO since 1949.

Example Sentences

West still has concerts planned in coming months in India, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Italy, Portugal and Turkey, according to his official website.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

The UK is also forecast to have the joint highest inflation in the G7 this year, of 3.2%, and next, of 2.4%. alongside the US in 2026 and Italy in 2027.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Two Washington Post sportswriters are covering the Winter Olympics in Italy, despite having been laid off just before the event started.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

The IMF cut its Italy forecast to 0.5 percent, the same level chalked up last year.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

You have to understand, the worst penne pasta in Italy, the tubs of it they would give refugees, was still better than the Oklahoma City Olive Garden.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri