Definition of Banana republic

1. Noun. 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).

Generic synonyms: Country, Land, State

Definition of Banana republic

1. Noun. (politics idiomatic) A small country, especially one in Central America, that is dependent on a single export commodity (traditionally bananas) and that has a corrupt, dictatorial government. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Banana Republic

banana kicks
banana leaf
banana leaves
banana oil
banana orbit
banana paper
banana peel
banana peels
banana pepper
banana peppers
banana plug
banana plugs
banana pudding
banana quit
banana republic
banana republics
banana seat
banana skin
banana split
banana splits
banana tree
bananadine
bananaless
bananalike
bananaquit
bananaquits
bananas
bananas Foster
bananeries

Literary usage of Banana republic

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands by Peter Krahenbul (2003)
"The Western Slopes • History - A banana republic The forests that once covered the western slopes of the Andes in this region of Ecuador were unlike any on ..."

2. Caribbean Interests of the United States by Chester Lloyd Jones (1916)
"Bananas are now the chief article of export constituting about one-half of the total.1 Costa Rica is developing into a typical "banana" republic, ..."

3. Costa Rica by Nelles Verlag Staff, Klaus Boll, Detlev Kirst, Ortrun Egelkraut (1999)
"Thanks to his unscrupulous business methods, the UFC developed very quickly into a state within a state and turned Costa Rica into a banana republic ..."

4. Adventure Guide Honduras & The Bay Islands by Maria Fiallos (2006)
"As a leading banana exporter, Honduras became known as the original "Banana Republic." Although the Tela Railroad Company moved its headquarters to La Lima ..."

5. A Traveler's Guide to the Galapagos Islands by Barry Boyce (2004)
"... close to the Columbian border), Ecuador was a typical "banana republic." In fact, Ecuador is still the world's largest exporter of bananas. ..."

6. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage by Inc. Merriam-Webster (1994)
"1985 these classic khaki trousers are the best — banana republic Catalog, Summer 1984 clothes rendered in extremely classic ways — Came Donovan, ..."

7. From Globalism to Regionalism: New Perspectives on Us Foreign and Defense by Patrick M Cronin (1994)
"... Force at the time criticized this move, suggesting that the cancellation of the program at the US request made Argentina look like a banana republic. ..."

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