Republic of Zaire, a former name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
official name within the Democratic Republic of the Congo of the Congo River (the term Congo River is more widely used elsewhere).
the former name (1971–97) of the Democratic Republic of Congo
(formerly) the Zaïrian name (1971–97) for the (River) Congo
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The central African nation has only played in the World Cup once before - in 1974 when the country was named Zaire.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
So when Zaire Rasshan was only two of nine from three-point range at halftime on Friday night in the state Division I championship game, the message and mentality was keep shooting.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2026
When Zaire became independent in 1960, he returned as a respected lieutenant in the army.
From BBC • Nov. 28, 2025
DR Congo was called Zaire when the country qualified for the only time in 1974.
From Barron's • Nov. 16, 2025
If the virus wasn’t Ebola Zaire, what was it?
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
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.
