Puerto Rico

[ pwer-tuh ree-koh, pwer-toh, pawr-tuh; Spanish pwer-taw ree-kaw ]

noun

1. an island in the central West Indies: a commonwealth associated with the U.S. 3,435 sq. mi. (8,895 sq. km). : San Juan. : P.R., PR

Puerto Rico

/ ˈpwɛə-; ˈpwɜːtəʊ ˈriːkəʊ /

noun

1. an autonomous commonwealth (in association with the US) occupying the smallest and easternmost of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean: one of the most densely populated areas in the world; ceded by Spain to the US in 1899. Currency: US dollar. Capital: San Juan. Pop: 3 674 209 (2013 est). Area: 9104 sq km (3515 sq miles) Former name (until 1932)Porto Rico PR

Puerto Rico

1. Island in the Caribbean Sea , southeast of Miami , Florida . Its capital and largest city is San Juan.

Notes

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. Citizens of Puerto Rico are also American citizens but do not vote in federal elections and do not pay federal taxes on their local earnings.

Other Words From

• Puer·to Ri·can adjective noun

Example Sentences

Then he appeared to relent, inviting us to interview him at his gym in Puerto Rico.

From BBC

You know, the roast comic who appeared at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden nouveau Bund rally and called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean.”

From Salon

He said he wasn’t offended by stand-up comic Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico garbage before a packed Donald Trump rally in New York last month.

From Los Angeles Times

“It was filled with so much hate ... calling Puerto Rico an island of garbage,” said the musician, a Bronx native who is of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent.

From Los Angeles Times

The comment was a reminder of Trump’s already fraught and hostile history with Puerto Rico.

From Salon