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Karelia

American  
[kuh-reel-yuh, kuh-rye-lyi-yuh] / kəˈril yə, kʌˈryɛ lyɪ yə /

noun

  1. a region in the NW Russian Federation in Europe, comprising Lake Ladoga and Onega Lake and the adjoining area along the E border of Finland.

  2. Karelian Autonomous Republic.


Karelia British  
/ kaˈreljə, kəˈriːlɪə /

noun

  1. a region of NE Europe comprising areas of both Finland and Russia. Following the Russo-Finnish War (1939–40) a large part of what had been Finnish Karelia was annexed by the former Soviet Union; together with the part of Karelia which already belonged to Russia at that time, it corresponds roughly to the modern Karelian Republic in Russia

  2. another name for the Karelian Republic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Most of Finnish Karelia was grabbed by Joseph Stalin's forces in 1940 after the bloody Winter War, when Finland put up stiff resistance to the Soviets despite overwhelming odds.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Genetic studies have now showned that the virus differs markedly from the virus variants that circulate in northern Sweden and Denmark, and that it is most closely related to viruses from Finland and Karelia.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2024

He has been serving time in isolation in a remote penal colony in Russia’s northwestern Karelia region.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 8, 2024

Pivovarov’s ally and partner Tatyana Usmanova said on Monday that the politician’s mother was able to confirm that he arrived at the IK-7 penal colony in Russia’s northwestern region of Karelia on Jan. 24.

From Washington Times • Feb. 20, 2023

While Charles was overrunning Poland, Peter was reorganizing his army and occupying Karelia and Ingria; and when the Swedish king returned to engage the Russians, Augustus drove out Stanislaus and regained the crown of Poland.

From A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1. by Hayes, Carlton J. H.