Peru

American  

[puh-roo] / pəˈru /

noun

1. Spanish Perú.  a republic in western South America. 496,222 sq. mi. (1,285,215 sq. km). Lima.

2. a city in north-central Indiana.

3. a city in northern Illinois.

---

Peru British  

/ pəˈruː /

noun

1. a republic in W South America, on the Pacific: the centre of the great Inca Empire when conquered by the Spanish in 1532; gained independence in 1824 by defeating Spanish forces with armies led by San Martín and Bolívar; consists of a coastal desert, rising to the Andes; an important exporter of minerals and a major fishing nation. Official languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. Official religion: Roman Catholic. Currency: nuevo sol. Capital: Lima. Pop: 29 849 303 (2013 est). Area: 1 285 215 sq km (496 222 sq miles)

---

Peru Cultural  

1. Republic in western South America, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Ecuador to the northwest, Colombia to the northeast, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, and Chile to the south. Its capital and largest city is Lima.

---

Discover More

Peru was the heart of the Inca Empire, which flourished from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries. The remains of the empire include the fabled stone fortress of Machu Picchu.

Achieved independence from Spain in 1821.

Other Word Forms

• Peruvian adjective
• non-Peruvian adjective

Example Sentences

The minister claimed the contracts for the F-16s had already been signed and said putting them on hold now turned Peru into "a country that cannot be trusted in a negotiation process."

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

The US ambassador to Peru, Bernardo Navarro, last week issued a warning widely believed to relate to the deal.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Khimberly’s parents came to Los Angeles from Peru five years ago and enrolled their daughters in LAUSD, hoping it would lead to a bright future for their daughters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Under Velarde, Peru achieved an average 3% annual inflation and 4% economic growth, with the sol becoming Latin America’s most stable currency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Not Peru the tiny town where our car wouldn’t start.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden