banana republic
2 synonyms and 0 antonyms for banana republic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small country that is politically unstable and badly governed, whose economy depends on a single export or industry and is often controlled by foreign business or a corrupt elite.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use banana republic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Always disparaging and often loosely applied, so it is best avoided in neutral reporting. Note that its origins in the fruit trade of Central America give it a colonial edge that some readers will find offensive.
Etymology
From banana and republic, originally describing small Central American states whose economies and politics were dominated by foreign-owned fruit companies.
Full origin of banana republic →Frequently asked questions
Why is it called a banana republic?
The phrase comes from Central American states in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries whose economies rested on banana exports controlled by foreign fruit companies. Those companies wielded enormous influence over local governments, which is the imbalance the term captures.
Is banana republic an offensive term?
Many people find it so. It reduces complex political histories to a slur and glosses over the role outside powers played in creating that instability, so careful writing usually prefers a specific description of the problem.