Paraguay

American  

[par-uh-gwahy, -gwey, pah-rah-gwahy] / ˈpær əˌgwaɪ, -ˌgweɪ, ˌpɑ rɑˈgwaɪ /

noun

1. a republic in central South America between Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina. 157,047 sq. mi. (406,750 sq. km). Asunción.

2. a river in central South America, flowing south from western Brazil through Paraguay to the Paraná River. 1,500 miles (2,400 km) long.

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Paraguay British  

/ ˈpærəˌɡwaɪ /

noun

1. an inland republic in South America: colonized by the Spanish from 1537, gaining independence in 1811; lost 142 500 sq km (55 000 sq miles) of territory and over half its population after its defeat in the war against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay (1865–70). It is divided by the Paraguay River into a sparsely inhabited semiarid region (Chaco) in the west, and a central region of wooded hills, tropical forests, and rich grasslands, rising to the Paraná plateau in the east. Official languages: Spanish and Guarani. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: guarani. Capital: Asunción. Pop: 6 623 252 (2013 est). Area: 406 750 sq km (157 047 sq miles)

2. a river in South America flowing south through Brazil and Paraguay to the Paraná River. Length: about 2400 km (1500 miles)

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Paraguay Cultural  

1. Republic in south-central South America, enclosed by Bolivia on the west and north, Brazil on the northeast, and Argentina on the south and west.

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Discover More

Reputed sanctuary for Nazi fugitives.

Controlled for many decades by a highly repressive military government. A civilian was elected president in 1993.

Other Word Forms

• Paraguayan adjective
• anti-Paraguay adjective
• pro-Paraguay adjective
• trans-Paraguayan adjective

Example Sentences

Shaykevich also highlights what he calls “sleeper stories”—local-currency bonds issued in smaller markets such as Morocco, Paraguay and Guatemala that attract limited investor attention but offer stable balance sheets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Mr. da Silva’s establishment sits along Brazil’s Federal Highway 060, which runs more than 900 miles southwest from Brasília, the capital, to Bela Vista, bordering Paraguay.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Instead, during the South American Under-17 Championship in Paraguay, two visitors arrived at his hotel.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

The deal will provisionally apply to the Mercosur countries that have ratified it, Gill told reporters, adding the commission anticipated remaining members Brazil and Paraguay would do so "soon".

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Maybe he assumed that because I was all the way over in Paraguay, the chances weren’t good I would ever be in D.C.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez