What Does "Banana Republic" Mean?
"Banana republic" is an English idiom. It means "a small country that is politically unstable, typically dependent on one exported product."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "banana republic" used in a sentence:- The nation struggled to free itself from its image as a banana republic.
- Some fear that the political upheaval will turn the country into a banana republic.
- The dictator ran the country like a banana republic.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Banana Republic" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "banana republic" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!


- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 10 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Cyber Guru (+)
Cyber Hero (+)
Cyber Captain (+)
Cyber Sergeant (+)
Cyber Recruit (+)
Cyber Guru (+)
Cyber Hero (+)
Cyber Captain (+)
Cyber Sergeant (+)
Cyber Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
