Peru

American  

[puh-roo] / pəˈru /

noun

1. Spanish Perú.  a republic in western South America. 496,222 sq. mi. (1,285,215 sq. km). Lima.

2. a city in north-central Indiana.

3. a city in northern Illinois.

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Peru British  

/ pəˈruː /

noun

1. a republic in W South America, on the Pacific: the centre of the great Inca Empire when conquered by the Spanish in 1532; gained independence in 1824 by defeating Spanish forces with armies led by San Martín and Bolívar; consists of a coastal desert, rising to the Andes; an important exporter of minerals and a major fishing nation. Official languages: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara. Official religion: Roman Catholic. Currency: nuevo sol. Capital: Lima. Pop: 29 849 303 (2013 est). Area: 1 285 215 sq km (496 222 sq miles)

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Peru Cultural  

1. Republic in western South America, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Ecuador to the northwest, Colombia to the northeast, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, and Chile to the south. Its capital and largest city is Lima.

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Discover More

Peru was the heart of the Inca Empire, which flourished from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries. The remains of the empire include the fabled stone fortress of Machu Picchu.

Achieved independence from Spain in 1821.

Other Word Forms

• Peruvian adjective
• non-Peruvian adjective

Example Sentences

In January, the U.S. designated Peru a Major Non-NATO Ally and a new U.S. ambassador to Peru has sought to boost Washington’s ties ahead of the election.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

The results of the general election in Peru have been delayed after tens of thousands of people were unable to vote due to technical and logistical problems at a number of polling stations.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

During the late 1980s, Velarde witnessed Peru spiraling into chaos as President Alan García drove inflation above 7,000%, pushing millions into poverty.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Among the excluded markets are Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, where the company held clinical trials that contributed to the drug’s development, in part because HIV incidence was high in those countries.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Outside of employing a number of New Orleans natives, Zeitoun had hired men from everywhere: Peru, Mexico, Bulgaria, Poland, Brazil, Honduras, Algeria.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers