Mozambique

American  

[moh-zam-beek, -zuhm-] / ˌmoʊ zæmˈbik, -zəm- /

noun

1. Formerly Portuguese East Africa.  a republic in southeastern Africa: formerly an overseas province of Portugal; gained independence in 1975. 297,731 sq. mi. (771,123 sq. km). Maputo.

2. a seaport on an island just off the northeastern coast of this republic.

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Mozambique British  

/ ˌməʊzəmˈbiːk /

noun

1. Also called (until 1975): Portuguese East Africa.  Portuguese name: Moçambique.  a republic in SE Africa: colonized by the Portuguese from 1505 onwards and a slave-trade centre until 1878; made an overseas province of Portugal in 1951; became an independent republic in 1975; became a member of the Commonwealth in 1995. Official language: Portuguese. Religion: animist majority. Currency: metical. Capital: Maputo. Pop: 24 096 669 (2013 est). Area: 812 379 sq km (313 661 sq miles)

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Mozambique Cultural  

1. Republic in southeastern Africa on the Indian Ocean, bordered by South Africa to the south, Swaziland to the southwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania to the north. It was a possession of Portugal from 1505 until 1975. Its capital and largest city is Maputo.

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Example Sentences

Juma, 35, a refugee from a war-torn corner of Mozambique, had been in South Africa—legally—for a decade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026

Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zimbabwe have also been organising repatriations by air or bus over the last few weeks - with about 3,500 foreigners volunteering to leave so far.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

The South African police say two people from Mozambique were killed but did not link the deaths to an anti-illegal migrant march held hours before.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

This massive system extends from the Afar Depression in northeastern Ethiopia all the way to Mozambique, separating the African tectonic plate from the Arabian and Somali plates.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

She had entered a convent in Mozambique, where she spent many happy hours listing people’s sins and praying for them.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer