Latvia

American  

[lat-vee-uh, laht-] / ˈlæt vi ə, ˈlɑt- /

noun

1. a republic in N Europe, on the Baltic, S of Estonia, an independent state 1918–40; annexed by the Soviet Union 1940; regained independence 1991. 25,395 sq. mi. (63,700 sq. km). Riga.

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Latvia British  

/ ˈlætvɪə /

noun

1. a republic in NE Europe, on the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea: ruled by Poland, Sweden, and Russia since the 13th century, Latvia was independent from 1919 until 1940 and was a Soviet republic (1940–91), gaining its independence after conflict with Soviet forces; it joined the EU in 2004. Latvia is mostly forested. Official language: Latvian. Religion: nonreligious, Christian. Currency: lats. Capital: Riga. Pop: 2 178 443 (2013 est). Area: 63 700 sq km (25 590 sq miles)

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Latvia Cultural  

1. Republic on the Baltic Sea, bordered by Estonia to the north, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and Lithuania to the south. Its capital and largest city is Riga.

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Nationalist sentiments brewing since the mid-nineteenth century erupted at the time of the Russian Revolution; after the collapse of Russia and Germany in World War I, Latvia was able to proclaim its independence. After twenty years of political instability, however, Latvia was forcibly integrated into the Soviet Union in 1940, along with Estonia and Lithuania. The collapse of the Soviet Union enabled Latvians to reassert their national identity, and they declared their country independent in August 1991.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Latvia

In June, French fighter jets deployed to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission also shot down a drone in Latvia, marking the first time the alliance's rapid-reaction force has downed a stray drone over the country.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

Adults born in Ukraine, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Albania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czechia or Slovakia are particularly urged to test, as some may have been infected through medical or dental procedures before 1991.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Another Cordeiro trip started with a flight from London to Latvia, then on to Belarus and Lithuania on the same day.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

Nestled between Latvia and Russia, Estonia was early to put the internet in classrooms with its “Tiger Leap” in the 1990s, just after gaining independence from the Soviet Union.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

Powers's new prison cell, which he shared with a political prisoner from Latvia, was even smaller than his previous one.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau