Puerto Rico

American  

[pwer-tuh ree-koh, pwer-toh, pawr-tuh, pwer-taw ree-kaw] / ˈpwɛr tə ˈri koʊ, ˈpwɛr toʊ, ˈpɔr tə, ˈpwɛr tɔ ˈri kɔ /

noun

1. an island in the central West Indies: a commonwealth associated with the U.S. 3,435 sq. mi. (8,895 sq. km). San Juan. P.R., PR

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Puerto Rico British  

/ ˈpwɛə-, ˈpwɜːtəʊ ˈriːkəʊ /

noun

1. Former name (until 1932): Porto Rico.   PR.  an autonomous commonwealth (in association with the US) occupying the smallest and easternmost of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean: one of the most densely populated areas in the world; ceded by Spain to the US in 1899. Currency: US dollar. Capital: San Juan. Pop: 3 674 209 (2013 est). Area: 9104 sq km (3515 sq miles)

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Puerto Rico Cultural  

1. Island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Miami, Florida. Its capital and largest city is San Juan.

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Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. Citizens of Puerto Rico are also American citizens but do not vote in federal elections and do not pay federal taxes on their local earnings.

Other Word Forms

• Puerto Rican
  adjective

Example Sentences

Dodgers reliever Edwin Díaz pushes back against allegations linking him to cockfighting in Puerto Rico, saying he didn’t do anything illegal.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026

All 50 states, five US territories such as Puerto Rico, plus an array of sporting and cultural organizations have made contributions to this collective national snapshot.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

He further worked in Puerto Rico, London and Mexico City, which he still visits frequently.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026

Paulson met Ghaffar shortly after turning his sights on Puerto Rico.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026

“I was born in Puerto Rico but spent most of my life in Brooklyn. I enjoy reading and play a little soccer, but my true love is computers.”

From "City Spies" by James Ponti