banana republic

2 synonyms 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.

failed state kleptocracy

How to use banana republic

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

run like a banana republic banana republic politics turning into a banana republic

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.

People also searched

kleptocracy

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of banana republic