Singapore
Americannoun
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an island on the Strait of Singapore, off the S tip of the Malay Peninsula.
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an independent republic comprising this island and a few adjacent islets: member of the Commonwealth of Nations; formerly a British crown colony (1946–59) and member of the federation of Malaysia (1963–65). 220 sq. mi. (570 sq. km). Singapore.
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a seaport in and the capital of this republic.
noun
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a republic in SE Asia, occupying one main island and over 50 small islands at the S end of the Malay Peninsula: established as a British trading post in 1819 and became part of the Straits Settlements in 1826; occupied by the Japanese (1942–45); a British colony from 1946, becoming self-governing in 1959; part of the Federation of Malaysia from 1963 to 1965, when it became an independent republic (within the Commonwealth). Official languages: Chinese, Malay, English, and Tamil. Religion: Buddhist, Taoist, traditional beliefs, and Muslim. Currency: Singapore dollar. Capital: Singapore. Pop: 5 460 302 (2013 est). Area: now over 700 sq km (270 sq miles), increased in recent years as a result of land reclamation schemes
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the capital of the republic of Singapore: a major international port; administratively not treated as a city
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It is one of the world's biggest and busiest ports.
Though only 225 square miles in size, it is a major economic power in Asia.
A British colony from 1946 to 1959, Singapore then became independent.
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As an export-oriented economy with a small domestic market, Singapore is usually seen as a bellwether for international trade.
From Barron's • May 25, 2026
In its announcement this week, the company said it is partnering with more independent hotels in 20 top destinations, including New York, London and Singapore.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
This could support interest rates in Singapore and help alleviate pressure on banks’ net interest margin, the analyst says.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
But according to media reports, its employees are primarily based in Singapore.
From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026
“I’d see the world. Singapore, Zurich, Melbourne. Oh, I know. You should visit Tuvalu. It’s an island nation that’s not going to be around long if oceans keep rising.”
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.