Syria

American  

[seer-ee-uh] / ˈsɪər i ə /

noun

1. Official Name Syrian Arab Republic.  a republic in SW Asia at the E end of the Mediterranean. 71,227 sq. mi. (184,478 sq. km). Damascus.

2. a territory mandated to France in 1922, including the present republics of Syria and Lebanon (Latakia and Jebel ed Druz were incorporated into Syria 1942): the French mandatory powers were nominally terminated as of January 1, 1944.

3. an ancient country in W Asia, including the present Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and adjacent areas: a part of the Roman Empire 64 b.c.–a.d.

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Syria British  

/ ˈsɪrɪə /

noun

1. a republic in W Asia, on the Mediterranean: ruled by the Ottoman Turks (1516–1918); made a French mandate in 1920; became independent in 1944; joined Egypt in the United Arab Republic (1958–61). Hafez al-Assad elected president in 1971 following a coup; after his death in 2000 Assad's son Bashar took over the presidency; his rule was challenged (from 2012) by an uprising that led to a civil war. Official language: Arabic. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: Syrian pound. Capital: Damascus. Pop: 22 457 336 (2013 est). Area: 185 180 sq km (71 498 sq miles)

2. (formerly) the region between the Mediterranean, the Euphrates, the Taurus, and the Arabian Desert

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Syria Cultural  

1. Republic in the Middle East, bordered by Turkey to the northwest, north, and northeast; Iraq to the east and south; Jordan to the south; and Israel, the Mediterranean Sea, and Lebanon to the west. Its capital and largest city is Damascus.

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Discover More

Syria was established from former Ottoman Empire territory in 1920 but dominated by France until the 1940s. It is extremely hostile toward Israel.

In the Six-Day War, in 1967, Israeli troops dislodged Syrian forces from the Golan Heights, which overlook Israeli territory.

Example Sentences

It followed a visit by then foreign minister David Lammy to Damascus, the first visit to Syria by a British minister in 14 years.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

But Franziska Brantner from Germany's opposition Green Party said returning to Syria was not an option for many, because of the lack of infrastructure and the unstable security situation there.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Sharaa said Syria would never forget how Germany had opened its doors to refugees during the civil war.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Its onetime partner in Syria, former President Bashar al-Assad, is sitting in Moscow after fleeing his country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

A decade after Mohammed’s death in 632, his followers had captured Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife