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

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

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

The entire Southwest, including cities such as Bordeaux and Biarritz, offers amazing food, great wine tours, and sandy beaches without the crowds and expensive restaurants of the Riviera.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

Meanwhile, Abdulmejid and his family lived a glitzy Riviera life, attending dances, we are told, with “four or five kings and any number of princes, dukes and counts.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 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