Russia

American  

[ruhsh-uh] / ˈrʌʃ ə /

noun

1. Official Name Russian Federation.  a republic since 1991, the largest country in the world by area, extending from eastern Europe to northern and western Asia. 6,593,000 square miles (17,076,000 square kilometers). Moscow.

2. Soviet Union.

3. Russian Empire.

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Russia British  

/ ˈrʌʃə /

noun

1. the largest country in the world, covering N Eurasia and bordering on the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and the Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas: originating from the principality of Muscovy in the 17th century, it expanded to become the Russian Empire; the Tsar was overthrown in 1917 and the Communist Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic was created; this merged with neighbouring Soviet Republics in 1922 to form the Soviet Union; on the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 the Russian Federation was established as an independent state. Official language: Russian. Religion: nonreligious and Russian orthodox Christian. Currency: rouble. Capital: Moscow. Pop: 142 500 482 (2013 est). Area: 17 074 984 sq km (6 592 658 sq miles)

2. another name for the Russian Empire

3. another name for the former Soviet Union

4. another name for the former Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

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Russia Cultural  

1. A vast nation that stretches from eastern Europe across the Eurasian land mass. It was the most powerful republic of the former Soviet Union; ethnic Russians composed about half of the population. It is the world's largest country. Its capital and largest city is Moscow.

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Discover More

Russia now occupies the seat on the Security Council of the United Nations formerly held by the Soviet Union.

Peter the Great, a czar who reigned in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, attempted to westernize Russian government and culture.

Russia was ruled by czars of the Romanov family from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries.

During the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks, under Lenin, took control of the government; communists governed from 1917 until 1991.

Other Word Forms

• anti-Russia adjective
• pro-Russia adjective

Etymology

Origin of Russia

First recorded in 1730–40; from Medieval Latin Russī (nominative plural masculine) “Russians” + -ia noun suffix; Russ ¹ ( def. ), -ia

Example Sentences

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a truce for Orthodox Easter, with Vladimir Putin saying he's ordered Russian troops to cease fire "in all directions" this weekend.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Ukraine and Russia will cease fire for the Orthodox Easter holidays, the warring countries' leaders said on Thursday, announcing a rare 32-hour halt in fighting.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

China and Russia deny being involved in cable cuts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Healey said when the first Akula submarine was monitored it soon left UK waters and went back to Russia, while the two Gugi vessels remained.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

It was better than Russia, but still so very far from home!

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood