dominican republic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal. In everyday contexts, often shortened to "the Dominican" or used with demonym "Dominican".
Quick answer
What does “dominican republic” mean?
A sovereign country occupying the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sovereign country occupying the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea.
Used metonymically to refer to its government, people, culture, or national team in sports; also denotes a geographical and political entity in discussions of the Caribbean region.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. In the US, it is a more frequent topic due to geographical proximity, larger diaspora, and tourism.
Connotations
Shared connotations of Caribbean tourism, baseball, and merengue/bachata music. In the US, may also carry connotations related to immigration.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English media and everyday discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “dominican republic” in a Sentence
[verb] the Dominican Republic (e.g., visit, leave, govern)be in/from/to the Dominican Republicthe Dominican Republic [verb] (e.g., borders, exports, competes)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dominican republic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team hopes to Dominican-Republic their way to victory. (Non-standard, illustrative of creative use)
adjective
British English
- She brought back some lovely Dominican Republic rum.
American English
- He is a Dominican Republic citizen.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referring to trade agreements, tourism investment, or the offshoring sector.
Academic
In geography, political science, history (e.g., colonial history, Trujillo era), and environmental studies.
Everyday
Discussing holidays, sports (baseball players), food (mangú, sancocho), or music.
Technical
In meteorology (hurricane tracking), international law (treaties), or public health reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dominican republic”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dominican republic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dominican republic”
- Incorrect: "Dominican's Republic" (apostrophe error).
- Incorrect: "Dominic Republic" (shortening error).
- Incorrect: using a lowercase 'd' and 'r'.
- Incorrect: "I'm from Dominican" (should be "the Dominican Republic" or "Dominican").
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In informal contexts, especially in the US, 'the Dominican' is understood to mean the Dominican Republic (e.g., 'She's from the Dominican'). For clarity, the full name is preferred in formal writing.
They are two different Caribbean nations. The Dominican Republic is on Hispaniola. Dominica (Commonwealth of Dominica) is a smaller island further south, part of the Windward Islands.
In American English: /dəˌmɪn.ə.kən rɪˈpʌb.lɪk/. The stress is on 'pub' in 'Republic'. British English is similar: /dəˌmɪn.ɪ.kən rɪˈpʌb.lɪk/.
The name comes from Santo Domingo, the capital city, named by Spanish settlers in honour of Saint Dominic (Santo Domingo in Spanish). The western third of the island became Haiti.
A sovereign country occupying the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea.
Dominican republic is usually neutral to formal. in everyday contexts, often shortened to "the dominican" or used with demonym "dominican". in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms for the country name itself.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "DOMINATE the eastern part of the island, then form a REPUBLIC" -> DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER (the country as a container for its people, culture, resources); PERSON (the nation as an actor: "The Dominican Republic signed a treaty.")
Practice
Quiz
What is the demonym for a person from the Dominican Republic?