Definition

Proper noun: 1. A country in Central Africa: The Republic of the Congo is a sovereign state located on the western coast of Central Africa, north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and south of Cameroon and the Central African Republic. Its capital is Brazzaville. 2. A former French colony: It refers to the nation that gained independence from France in 1960.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Republic of the Congo is known for its vast rainforests and the Congo River.
  • Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, lies directly across the river from Kinshasa.
  • France established colonial rule over the area now known as the Republic of the Congo in the late 19th century.

Advanced Usage

• "Congo-Brazzaville": An informal name often used to distinguish it from its larger neighbor, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa).
  • To avoid confusion, journalists sometimes refer to the Republic of the Congo as Congo-Brazzaville.

Variants and Related Words

• Congo: A common short form, though this can be ambiguous as it also refers to the Congo River and the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Congolese (adj): Of or relating to the Republic of the Congo or its people.
  • She is a Congolese diplomat.
• French Congo: The historical name for the colonial territory that became the Republic of the Congo.

Synonyms

• Congo-Brazzaville: (Informal synonym used for distinction)
• The Congo: (Common short form, context-dependent)

Notes on Meaning

To avoid confusion, note the distinction between: - Republic of the Congo: The country with capital Brazzaville, formerly a French colony. - Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): The much larger country with capital Kinshasa, formerly a Belgian colony. Both countries are named after the Congo River.

Noun

1. a republic in west-central Africa; achieved independence from France in 1960