Puerto Rico

[pwer-tuh ree-koh, pwer-toh, pawr-tuh, pwer-taw ree-kaw]

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

Puerto Rico

/ 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)

Puerto Rico

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

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

As an unincorporated territory of the United States, Puerto Rico still has an ICE presence.

From Los Angeles Times

Roc Nation chairman Jay-Z said in a statement, “What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.”

From Salon

Puerto Rico is a US territory but which exercises substantial internal self-govenance.

From BBC

Hernandez-Santana was born in Puerto Rico and was not registered as a Republican or Democrat, according to voting records.

From Los Angeles Times

Similarly, reggaetón developed in the working-class barrios and public housing developments of Puerto Rico.

From Los Angeles Times