Palau

British  

/ pɑːˈlaʊ /

noun

1. Former name: Pelew Islands.  a republic comprising a group of islands in the W Pacific, in the W Caroline Islands; administratively part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 1947–87; entered into an agreement of free association with the US (1980); became fully independent in 1994. Chief island: Babelthuap. Capital: Melekeok, on Babelthuap (functions moved from Koror in 2006). Pop: 21 108 (2013 est). Area: 476 sq km (184 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

Since then it has cycled through four names and several flags, including Cameroon, Palau, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis and Tanzania.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Other migrants have been sent to countries that routinely violate human rights such as El Salvador, Rwanda, Eswatini, Palau and Equatorial Guinea.

From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026

And given Palau’s strategic location, global powers will have an interest in Palau whether the island nation wants it or not, he added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

North Korean smuggling networks have long exploited shipping registries in South Pacific nations such as Palau, Niue and Tuvalu.

From Barron's • Dec. 2, 2025

We kept getting reports on our little radio that MacArthur was winning battles in many places, some of which we'd never heard of: March, 1944 - Palau; April - Hollandia; June - Saipan.

From Blood Brothers A Medic's Sketch Book by Rohlfing, Sam