Panama
Americannoun
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a republic in southern Central America. 28,575 square miles (74,010 square kilometers).
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Also called Panama City. a city in and the capital of Panama, at the Pacific end of the Panama Canal.
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Formerly Darien. Isthmus of Panama an isthmus between North and South America.
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Gulf of Panama the portion of the Pacific Ocean in the bend of the Isthmus of Panama.
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Sometimes panama Panama hat.
noun
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a republic in Central America, occupying the Isthmus of Panama: gained independence from Spain in 1821 and joined Greater Colombia; became independent in 1903, with the immediate area around the canal forming the Canal Zone under US jurisdiction; Panama assumed sovereignty over the Canal Zone in 1979 and full control in 1999. Official language: Spanish; English is also widely spoken. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: balboa. Capital: Panama City. Pop: 3 559 408 (2013 est). Area: 75 650 sq km (29 201 sq miles)
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Former name: Darien. Isthmus of Darien. an isthmus linking North and South America, between the Pacific and the Caribbean. Length: 676 km (420 miles). Width (at its narrowest point): 50 km (31 miles)
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a wide inlet of the Pacific in Panama
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Backed by the United States, which wanted to negotiate a treaty to build a canal connecting the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean, Panama revolted against Colombia, of which it was a part, and declared itself independent in 1903.
In 1989, the United States invaded Panama and forcibly removed its leader, Manuel Noriega, to the United States, where he was tried and convicted for drug trafficking. (See also Panama Canal.)
The United States built the Panama Canal from 1904 to 1914, and American relations with Panama long were shaped by the U.S. presence in the Canal Zone, which divides the country.
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Panama Canal's operator is to cut the number of vessels passing through the key waterway due to low rainfall caused by El Niño.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
The Panama Canal handles five percent of global maritime trade and around 40 percent of US container traffic.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
As for whether the company would need to book an impairment on the Panama ports business, Group Chief Financial Officer Kwan Cheung said the company doesn’t think that will be necessary.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
From September 3, the number of vessels allowed through the canal each day will be reduced due to a lack of rain, the Panama Canal Authority said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
With one of my best friends, Paola Pliego, waiting for the next round of matches to begin in Panama City, Panama.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
