Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

Pretoria

American  
[pri-tawr-ee-uh, -tohr-] / prɪˈtɔr i ə, -ˈtoʊr- /

noun

  1. a city in and the administrative capital of the Republic of South Africa, in the NE part: also the capital of Transvaal.


Pretoria British  
/ prɪˈtɔːrɪə /

noun

  1. Also called: Tshwane.  a city in N South Africa, the administrative capital of South Africa; formerly capital of Transvaal province: two universities (1873, 1930); large steelworks. Pop: 525 384 (2001)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Pretoria Cultural  
  1. Administrative capital of South Africa. (See also Cape Town.)


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Pretoria summoned the new US ambassador Wednesday to explain "undiplomatic remarks" about South African racial policies and court decisions, the foreign minister said.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

One immediate result of the Pretoria meeting was an agreement for pan-African experts to engage directly with Global Exposome Forum working groups and participate in thematic meetings worldwide.

From Science Daily • Feb. 14, 2026

The BBC has contacted the Israeli embassy in Pretoria for comment.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

Relations between Washington and Pretoria are already at their lowest point since the end of apartheid rule in 1994.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

Wilton Mkwayi, one of the accused and a longtime union leader and ANC man, had traveled to Pretoria for the trial from Port Elizabeth.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela