Indonesia
Americannoun
-
Formerly Netherlands East Indies, Dutch East Indies. Republic of. a republic in the Malay Archipelago consisting of 13,677 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, the S part of Borneo, the W part of New Guinea, the Moluccas, Bali, Madura, and most of the Lesser Sunda Islands: gained independence from the Netherlands in 1949. 735,358 sq. mi. (1,904,569 sq. km). Jakarta.
noun
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The volcanic (see volcano) island of Krakatoa, between Sumatra and Java, erupted in 1883, creating a tsunami that caused great destruction to its neighboring islands. It sent volcanic debris as far as Madagascar.
Rich in nutmeg and cloves, the Moluccas, in the eastern part of the archipelago, are known as the Spice Islands.
Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world.
A severe economic downturn in 1998 triggered public protests against corruption and cronyism in the government and led to the resignation of the country's longtime president, General Suharto.
In 1975, Indonesia invaded the former Dutch colony of East Timor and, despite international condemnation, annexed it in 1976. In 1999, East Timorese voted overwhelmingly for independence in a U.N.-sponsored referendum. Pro-Indonesia militias then rampaged through East Timor until the arrival of international peacekeepers. Independence was declared in May 2001.
Indonesia was under Dutch control from the beginning of the seventeenth century to World War II, when Japan occupied it. It proclaimed independence in 1945. The islands were called the Dutch East Indies from 1799 until their independence.
Indonesia is the principal oil producer in the Far East and Pacific.
Etymology
Origin of Indonesia
First recorded in 1850–55; Indo- + Greek nês(os) “island” + -ia
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.
The Australian government has deployed a military transport aircraft to help Indonesia put out wildfires in Borneo that are causing toxic haze across the region, both countries have said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
H. erectus survived in Indonesia until perhaps 100,000 years ago.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026
Others, including Indonesia, are taking their time ratifying new trade concessions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
The proposed changes, which are expected to pass easily, come after weeks of air pollution from fires in neighbouring Indonesia angered Singaporeans and sparked calls for action.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
Western New Guinea would eventually have been incorporated politically into the sultanates of eastern Indonesia, and metal tools might have spread through eastern Indonesia to New Guinea.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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