Riviera

American  

[riv-ee-air-uh, ree-vye-rah] / ˌrɪv iˈɛər ə, riˈvyɛ rɑ /

noun

1. French Côte d'Azur.  a resort area along the Mediterranean coast, extending from Saint Tropez, in SE France, to La Spezia, in NW Italy.

2. (often lowercase) any similar coastal resort area.

   the Florida riviera.

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riviera ¹ British  

/ ˌrɪvɪˈɛərə /

noun

1. a coastal region reminiscent of the Riviera

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Riviera ² British  

/ ˌrɪvɪˈɛərə /

noun

1. the Mediterranean coastal region between Cannes, France, and La Spezia, Italy: contains some of Europe's most popular resorts

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Riviera Cultural  

1. Narrow strip of land in southeastern France and northwestern Italy on the Mediterranean Sea, also including Monaco. Cannes, Monte Carlo, and Nice are three of its best-known towns and cities.

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Discover More

Its scenic beauty and mild climate make it a popular vacation area.

The French Riviera is also called the Côte d'Azur (the azure coast).

Etymology

Origin of Riviera

C18: from Italian literally: shore, ultimately from Latin rīpa bank, shore

Example Sentences

Also tucked away on the Baltic coast is the "German Riviera".

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Wedged between the mountains and the sea on the French Riviera, Monaco is the world's second smallest state after the Vatican, and resolutely Catholic.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Here, Rune offers a snapshot of Riviera life, sharing where he likes to stay, eat and unwind.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

“If you’re going to Cancun or Los Cabos or Riviera Maya, you’re totally fine,” Elrod said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

Not until I got older did I learn that Flatbush Avenue inspired a lower level of awe than the French Riviera.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore