Macao

American  

[muh-kou] / məˈkaʊ /

noun

1. a Portuguese overseas territory in S China, in the delta of the Zhu Jiang River and including two small adjacent islands. 6 sq. mi. (16 sq. km).

2. the seaport and capital of this territory.

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Macao British  

/ məˈkaʊ /

noun

1. Portuguese name: Macau.  a special administrative region of China, in the south of the country, across the estuary of the Zhu Jiang from Hong Kong: chief centre of European trade with China in the 18th century; attained partial autonomy in 1976; formerly (until 1999) a Portuguese overseas province under a long-term lease from China, as with Hong Kong (a UK territory until 1997); transit trade with rest of China; tourism and financial services. It retains its own currency, the pataca. Pop: 583 003 (2013 est). Area: 16 sq km (6 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

I was at Mahjong Palace, a stylish mahjong social club with a monthly residency at Macao Trading Co., a Tribeca restaurant and bar.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Anta Sports bought the rights to the Fila trademark in China, Hong Kong and Macao in 2009.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

"The games in Macao earlier this season showed how much passion and enthusiasm there is for the NBA among fans in China and across Asia," said NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum.

From Barron's • Jan. 5, 2026

Shunde District in Foshan has been hit hardest, accounting for over 3,600 cases, while additional infections have appeared in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao.

From Science Daily • Oct. 10, 2025

Found starving when a boy, by the Portuguese priests at Macao, they took him under their care, taught him Christianity, and baptized him by the name of Nicholas Gaspard.

From The War Tiger Or, Adventures and Wonderful Fortunes of the Young Sea Chief and His Lad Chow: A Tale of the Conquest of China by Dalton, William