banana republic
A small country, especially one in Central America or the West Indies, that is…A small country, especially one in Central America or the West Indies, that is dependent on a single export commodity (traditionally bananas) and that has a corrupt, dictatorial government.
» Guatemala was once qualified as a banana republic.
Meaning
1 senses(derogatory, idiomatic)A small country, especially one in Central America or the West Indies, that is dependent on a single export commodity (traditionally bananas) and that has a corrupt, dictatorial government.
Bananenrepublik
бана́новая респу́бликаbanánovaja respúblika
бана́нова респу́блікаbanánova respúblika
a small country (especially in Central America) that is politically unstable and whose economy is dominated by foreign companies and depends on one export (such as bananas)
Examples
3 sentencesGuatemala was once qualified as a banana republic.
Pablo comes from some banana republic of a country.
Guatemala was once called the Banana Republic.
Translations
9 languagesOrigin
Coined by American author O. Henry in 1901 in his short story Money Maze, set in the fictiCoined by American author O. Henry in 1901 in his short story Money Maze, set in the fictional "Anchuria", which was based on his 1896–97 stay in Honduras.
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Forms
plural: banana republics| Singular | banana republic |
|---|---|
| Plural | banana republics |
regular