Organization of American States

American  

noun

1. an organization formed in 1948 for the purpose of coordinated action in economic, political, and military matters: members are Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela. OAS

---

Organization of American States British  

noun

1.  OAS.  an association consisting of the US and other republics in the W hemisphere, founded at Bogotá in 1948 to promote military, economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the member states See also Pan American Union

---

Organization of American States Cultural  

1. An international organization that includes the United States and over thirty nations in Latin America. It was founded in the 1940s to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes and economic cooperation among members.

---

Example Sentences

“He’s finally achieving his life’s work,” said Carlos Trujillo, a Rubio ally who served as ambassador to the Organization of American States in the first Trump administration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026

It’s something that had waned over the years and been replaced by a greater emphasis on regional cooperation through institutions like the Organization of American States, and by U.S. soft power projected through development projects.

From Slate • Jan. 6, 2026

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights — an autonomous judicial body within the Organization of American States — called on the U.S. to reopen the criminal investigation of the agents involved.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2025

The Organization of American States discussed the dispute Tuesday as well.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 9, 2024

Speaking from his hospital bed, Betancourt announced he has again filed charges with the Organization of American States.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez