Zambia

American  

[zam-bee-uh] / ˈzæm bi ə /

noun

1. a republic in southern Africa: formerly a British protectorate and part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland; gained independence 1964; a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 288,130 sq. mi. (746,256 sq. km). Lusaka.

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Zambia British  

/ ˈzæmbɪə /

noun

1. Former name (until 1964): Northern Rhodesia.  a republic in southern Africa: an early site of human settlement; controlled by the British South Africa Company by 1900 and unified as Northern Rhodesia in 1911; made a British protectorate in 1924; part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953–63), gaining independence as a member of the Commonwealth in 1964; important mineral exports, esp copper. Official language: English. Religion: Christian majority, animist minority. Currency: kwacha. Capital: Lusaka. Pop: 14 222 233 (2013 est). Area: 752 617 sq km (290 587 sq miles)

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Zambia Cultural  

1. Republic in central Africa, bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north; Tanzania to the northeast; Malawi and Mozambique to the east; Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia to the south; and Angola to the west. Lusaka is the capital and largest city.

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Discover More

In the 1970s, Zambia supported the movement for black majority rule in Rhodesia.

British explorer David Livingstone first visited Zambia in 1851.

Zambia was proclaimed independent from British control in 1964. From 1953 to 1964, it was federated with Rhodesia (then Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe) as Northern Rhodesia.

Other Word Forms

• Zambian
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Zambia

The Human Rights Commission in Zambia has meanwhile called for accountability over people whose whereabouts remain unknown following arrests and security operations around the elections.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

The U.S. campaign marks a direct challenge to China’s long dominance in Zambia, although Beijing’s reputation in the country took a hit recently after a toxic spill at a Chinese copper mine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Mundubile, 55, who entered the race in May, secured nearly 38 percent of the vote, Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

He said the election showed that Zambia was a place of peace, law and order and a "democratic nation that settles our differences at the ballot box, and nowhere else".

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Starvation made Zambia and Tanzania and Ivory Coast and Gabon recognize Biafra, starvation brought Africa into Nixon's American campaign and made parents all over the world tell their children to eat up.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie