southern rhodesia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowhistorical, formal, academic
Quick answer
What does “southern rhodesia” mean?
A former British colony in southern Africa, now the independent nation of Zimbabwe.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A former British colony in southern Africa, now the independent nation of Zimbabwe.
A historical term for the British-administered territory (1923-1965) that corresponded roughly to present-day Zimbabwe; used in historical and political contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties as a proper noun for the historical entity.
Connotations
In both varieties, usage is primarily historical or academic. It may evoke associations with colonialism or the Rhodesian Bush War.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties; primarily found in historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “southern rhodesia” in a Sentence
[Southern Rhodesia] + [past tense verb e.g., was, became, existed][Preposition e.g., in, from] + [Southern Rhodesia]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southern rhodesia” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Southern Rhodesian government issued stamps.
- Southern Rhodesian economic policy was...
American English
- The Southern Rhodesian government issued stamps.
- Southern Rhodesian economic policy was...
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in modern business contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and African studies papers discussing the colonial period.
Everyday
Rarely used; older generations or history enthusiasts might reference it.
Technical
Used in precise historical or legal documents referring to the period 1923-1965/1980.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southern rhodesia”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southern rhodesia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southern rhodesia”
- Using 'Southern Rhodesia' to refer to modern Zimbabwe.
- Misspelling as 'Southern Rhodesia' (incorrect capitalisation).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Southern Rhodesia is the historical name for the territory that became Zimbabwe upon independence in 1980.
The name 'Southern Rhodesia' was used until 1965. After a unilateral declaration of independence, it was called 'Rhodesia' until 1979, then 'Zimbabwe Rhodesia' briefly, before becoming 'Zimbabwe' in 1980.
It was named after Cecil John Rhodes, a British imperialist, and was 'Southern' to distinguish it from Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).
In modern contexts referring to the country, using 'Zimbabwe' is correct and expected. Using 'Southern Rhodesia' is appropriate only in a specific historical context but may be perceived by some as insensitive due to its colonial associations.
A former British colony in southern Africa, now the independent nation of Zimbabwe.
Southern rhodesia is usually historical, formal, academic in register.
Southern rhodesia: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌð.ən rəʊˈdiː.ʒə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌð.ɚn roʊˈdiː.ʒə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SOUTHern RHODESIA: Think of it as the southern part named after Cecil RHODES, which later became ZIMBABWE (also starts with Z, like the end of Rhodesia).
Conceptual Metaphor
A historical container (a defined political entity that existed in the past).
Practice
Quiz
What is the modern nation that corresponds to the territory of Southern Rhodesia?