Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A country in southeastern Europe: Serbia is a sovereign state located in the Balkans region of southeastern Europe. It is a landlocked country.
   • A historical and geographical region: Historically, Serbia refers to a region in the central and northern parts of the former Yugoslavia, traditionally inhabited by Serbs.

Usage

• As a geographical/political entity:
  • Serbia is a candidate for membership in the European Union.
  • Belgrade is the capital city of Serbia.
• Referring to its historical context:
  • The medieval kingdom of Serbia was a significant power in the Balkans.
  • Serbs have lived in the region of Serbia since the 6th and 7th centuries.

Advanced Usage

• "The Republic of Serbia": The official name of the country.
  • The Republic of Serbia was one of the six constituent republics of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
• Used in geopolitical and historical discussions.
  • The history of Serbia in the 20th century is complex and intertwined with that of the broader Balkans.

Variants and Related Words

• Serbian (adjective): Of or relating to Serbia, its people, or their language.
  • She is studying Serbian history and culture.
• Serbian (noun): A native or inhabitant of Serbia; the South Slavic language spoken primarily in Serbia.
  • He is a Serbian from Novi Sad.
  • She speaks fluent Serbian.
• Serb (noun): A member of the South Slavic people who are the principal ethnic group of Serbia.
  • The Serbs have a rich cultural heritage.

Synonyms

• Republic of Serbia: Official synonym.
• (Historical context) Servia: An archaic English spelling for Serbia.

Related Phrases

• Central Serbia: A term sometimes used to refer to the region of Serbia proper, excluding the autonomous provinces.
• Serbia and Montenegro: The name of the state union that existed from 2003 to 2006, of which Serbia was a part.

Noun

1. a historical region in central and northern Yugoslavia; Serbs settled the region in the 6th and 7th centuries