Philippines

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

/ ˈfɪl əˌpinz, ˌfɪl əˈpinz /

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noun (used with a plural verb)

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). Capital: Manila.

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Also called Phil·ip·pine Is·lands

[fil-uh-peen ahy-luhndz] /ˈfɪl əˌpin ˈaɪ ləndz/ . Formerly Com·mon·wealth of the Phil·ip·pines

[kom-uhn-welth uhvthuh-fil-uh-peenz] /ˈkɒm ənˌwɛlθ ʌv ðə ˈfɪl əˌpinz/ . Official name Re·pub·lic of the Phil·ip·pines

[ri-puhb-lik uhvthuh-fil-uh-peenz] /rɪˈpʌb lɪk ʌv ðə ˈfɪl əˌpinz/ .

Origin of Philippines

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)

Words nearby Philippines

Philippians, Philippic, Philippics, Philippine, Philippine mahogany, Philippines, Philippine Sea, Philippine Trench, Philippopolis, philippus, Philips

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Philippines in a sentence

Participation at times surpassed 100, according to Magpayo, with coaches logging on from, among other countries, China, the Philippines, England and India.
Asian Coaches Association advocates for ‘minority of minorities’ in college basketball|Gene Wang|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
In the Philippines, there has been controversy over the way the app uses data.
Some prominent exposure apps are slowly rolling back freedoms|Bobbie Johnson|November 23, 2020|MIT Technology Review
It was clear to me that he was 70 years in the past, a young man back in his tent in the Philippines, watching his friend hop around in pain.
We Want to Hear Stories of Heroism—But Those Aren’t the War Stories Veterans Want to Tell|Kevin Maurer|November 11, 2020|Time
Subsequent research has so far shown the vaccine to be effective and safe, and trials are on in India, the Philippines, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Butterfly Effect: Putin, Xi Are Trumping America at Vaccine Diplomacy|Charu Kasturi|October 8, 2020|Ozy

Hong Kong and Shanghai listings also mean Ant is raising funds nearer to Southeast Asia, where it has invested in fintech startups in Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
Another Jack Ma company could break the world’s IPO record. But this time, the U.S. is missing out|Naomi Xu Elegant|September 21, 2020|Fortune
Another American officer, Capt. Edwin Glenn, was convicted of cruelty in a non-fatal turn-of-the-century case in the Philippines.
The Luxury Homes That Torture and Your Tax Dollars Built|Michael Daly|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After two years in the Philippines, he returned and they married, moving ‘back east’ to Iowa, and then to Kansas City.
Those Kansas City Blues: A Family History|Katie Baker|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She probably saw more carnage on the runway than Dad did in New Guinea and the Philippines.
What Did TJ Mean By “Pursuit of Happiness,” Anyway?|P. J. O’Rourke|June 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was, in fact, the very first person to text me after he heard of the devastating typhoon that hit the Philippines.
Life as an Undocumented Immigrant|Jose Antonio Vargas|April 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the Philippines, during Apocalypse, Brando had an earphone thing where they fed him lines.
Robert Duvall on His Storied Career, His New Movie, and Why He’s Ditching the GOP|Marlow Stern|March 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A royal decree (December 31, 1622) orders the Dominicans in the Philippines not to meddle in affairs of government.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
That title of Castile might become the cherished ideal in the Philippines if it were valued as I desire.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
The Philippines are shared by many tribes, all belonging to the same brown race.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
Among other questions to be agreed upon and embodied in the treaty was the future of the Philippines.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
The Cuban debts and the future of the Philippines were really the knotty points in the entire debate.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman

British Dictionary definitions for Philippines

Philippines

/ (ˈfɪlɪˌpiːnz, ˌfɪlɪˈpiːnz) /

noun

Republic of the Philippines (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)Related word: Filipino

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Philippines

Philippines

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

notes for Philippines

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

notes for Philippines

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

notes for Philippines

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

notes for Philippines

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

notes for Philippines

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

notes for Philippines

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