Malta

American  

[mawl-tuh] / ˈmɔl tə /

noun

1. an island in the Mediterranean between Sicily and Africa. 95 sq. mi. (246 sq. km).

2. a former British colony consisting of this island and two small adjacent islands: now an independent sovereign state and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 122 sq. mi. (316 sq. km). Valletta.

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Malta British  

/ ˈmɔːltə /

noun

1. a republic occupying the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino, in the Mediterranean south of Sicily: governed by the Knights Hospitallers from 1530 until Napoleon's conquest in 1798; French driven out, with British help, 1800; became British dependency 1814; suffered severely in World War II; became independent in 1964 and a republic in 1974; joined the EU in 2004; a member of the Commonwealth. Official languages: Maltese and English. Official religion: Roman Catholic. Currency: euro (from January 2008 replacing the Maltese lira). Capital: Valletta. Pop: 411 277 (2013 est). Area: 316 sq km (122 sq miles)

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Malta Cultural  

1. Republic in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily, made up of five small islands.

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Discover More

Malta, strategically located, has belonged to a succession of civilizations, including the ancient Greeks and the Roman Empire. In 1800, the British established control of Malta, which, since its independence in 1964, has continued to maintain close ties with Britain.

Example Sentences

As there were no available flights on the same day, he had to book a flight from Bergamo to Malta, then from there to Leeds.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Many of the vessels that cross the strait fly common shipping flags such as those of Panama, the Marshall Islands, and Malta.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Thermo Fisher Scientific, which makes instruments for the drug industry, also disclosed tax benefits from Malta.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Authorities in Malta and Italy have been monitoring the passage of the wreck, amid pollution fears.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

“Why do people come to Malta for eggs when they’re so expensive there ?” “Because they’ve always done it that way.”

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller