Definition

Proper noun 1. Capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina: The political, cultural, and economic center of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2. Historic location: The city where the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria occurred in 1914, an event that directly precipitated the start of World War I.

Usage Examples

• As a geographical location:
  • Sarajevo is a city known for its rich history and cultural diversity.
  • After the war, Sarajevo underwent a significant period of reconstruction.
• In a historical context:
  • The assassination in Sarajevo triggered a chain of events leading to the Great War.
  • Many history books detail the events that unfolded in Sarajevo in June 1914.

Advanced Usage

• "The Siege of Sarajevo": Refers to the prolonged military blockade of the city during the Bosnian War (1992–1996), which became a symbol of the conflict.
  • The Siege of Sarajevo was the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare.

Variants and Related Words

• Sarajevan (adjective): Of or relating to the city of Sarajevo.
  • The Sarajevan film festival attracts international attention.
• Sarajevan (noun): A native or inhabitant of Sarajevo.
  • The Sarajevans showed remarkable resilience during the siege.

Synonyms

• Capital (when referring to its status as the capital city).
• Epicenter (when referring to its role in the 1914 event).

Related Phrases

• The Shot Heard Round the World: A phrase sometimes used to describe the assassination in Sarajevo due to its global consequences.
  • The assassination in Sarajevo has been called the shot heard round the world.

Noun

1. capital and largest city of Bosnia; scene of the assassination of Francis Ferdinand in 1914 which precipitated World War I