Syria

American  

[seer-ee-uh] / ˈsɪər i ə /

noun

1. Official Name Syrian Arab Republic.  a republic in SW Asia at the E end of the Mediterranean. 71,227 sq. mi. (184,478 sq. km). Damascus.

2. a territory mandated to France in 1922, including the present republics of Syria and Lebanon (Latakia and Jebel ed Druz were incorporated into Syria 1942): the French mandatory powers were nominally terminated as of January 1, 1944.

3. an ancient country in W Asia, including the present Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and adjacent areas: a part of the Roman Empire 64 b.c.–a.d.

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Syria British  

/ ˈsɪrɪə /

noun

1. a republic in W Asia, on the Mediterranean: ruled by the Ottoman Turks (1516–1918); made a French mandate in 1920; became independent in 1944; joined Egypt in the United Arab Republic (1958–61). Hafez al-Assad elected president in 1971 following a coup; after his death in 2000 Assad's son Bashar took over the presidency; his rule was challenged (from 2012) by an uprising that led to a civil war. Official language: Arabic. Religion: Muslim majority. Currency: Syrian pound. Capital: Damascus. Pop: 22 457 336 (2013 est). Area: 185 180 sq km (71 498 sq miles)

2. (formerly) the region between the Mediterranean, the Euphrates, the Taurus, and the Arabian Desert

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Syria Cultural  

1. Republic in the Middle East, bordered by Turkey to the northwest, north, and northeast; Iraq to the east and south; Jordan to the south; and Israel, the Mediterranean Sea, and Lebanon to the west. Its capital and largest city is Damascus.

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Discover More

Syria was established from former Ottoman Empire territory in 1920 but dominated by France until the 1940s. It is extremely hostile toward Israel.

In the Six-Day War, in 1967, Israeli troops dislodged Syrian forces from the Golan Heights, which overlook Israeli territory.

Example Sentences

No one knows which course Syria under Ahmed al-Sharaa will choose, but for the first time in a half-century its government appears to want amicable relations with the U.S. and Israel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

It followed a visit by then foreign minister David Lammy to Damascus, the first visit to Syria by a British minister in 14 years.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

During the civil war in Syria, almost a million Syrians sought refuge in Germany.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Its onetime partner in Syria, former President Bashar al-Assad, is sitting in Moscow after fleeing his country.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

“It is true,” agreed Poirot, “that the food in Syria was not, perhaps, quite suited to my stomach.”

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie