Philippines

[fil-uh-peenz, fil-uh-peenz]

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. an archipelago of 7083 islands in the Pacific, SE of China: formerly (1898–1946) under the guardianship of the U.S.; now an independent republic. 114,830 sq. mi. (297,410 sq. km). Manila.

Philippines

/ ˈfɪlɪˌpiːnz, ˌfɪlɪˈpiːnz /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) a republic in SE Asia, occupying an archipelago of about 7100 islands (including Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, and Negros): became a Spanish colony in 1571 but ceded to the US in 1898 after the Spanish-American War; gained independence in 1946. The islands are generally mountainous and volcanic. Official languages: Filipino, based on Tagalog, and English. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: peso. Capital: Manila. Pop: 105 720 644 (2013 est). Area: 300 076 sq km (115 860 sq miles)

Philippines

1. Republic in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, comprising over seven thousand islands. Its capital and largest city is Manila.

Named for Philip II, king of Spain during the sixteenth century.

Although Philippine independence had long been an important political issue, the country did not gain full independence until 1946.

It continues to be plagued by allegations of corruption in high places and by a Muslim insurgency.

The Spanish held control of the islands until 1898, when they were transferred to the United States after the Spanish-American War.

The country was under the virtual dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos from 1965 until 1986, when he was forced into exile in the United States.

Occupied by the Japanese during World War II, the islands were liberated by Allied troops under General Douglas MacArthur.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Philippines¹

Named in 1544 by Ruy López de Villalobos (about 1500–44), Spanish explorer, who called the archipelago Las Islas Filipinas after Prince Philip of Austria, the Prince of Asturias at the time (later he became King Philip II of Spain)

Example Sentences

The majority of the company’s supply comes from the Philippines and Brazil, where its tariff rates stand at 19% and 50%, respectively.

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Vita Coco operates 17 coconut water factories in seven countries affected by U.S. tariff regimes in 2025: the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Vietnam.

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True to his survivor instincts, Enrile switched sides again and helped the Marcos family in their remarkable political comeback after they returned to the Philippines from exile.

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It is a global company employing another 150 staff overseas, with a customer service operation in the Philippines.

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At least six people have died after a super typhoon barrelled through the Philippines, mere days after an earlier storm left more than 200 people dead.

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