liberia

IPA/laɪˈbɪəriə/
KK[lˌaɪbˈɪrˌiə]IPA/laɪˈbɪriə/

liberia — noun

1. a nation on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, founded in the 1800s as a homelan

1.nounA2
Definition

a nation on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, founded in the 1800s as a homeland for Black Americans freed from slavery, with Monrovia as its capital city

Example

Nkechi moved to Liberia last year to work at a hospital in the capital.

proper noun as location after 'to'

Much of Liberia is covered by rainforest, and its coast runs along the Atlantic Ocean.

passive: 'is covered by' describing geography

Common collocations
  • in Liberia
  • the capital of Liberia
  • the government of Liberia
  • the founding of Liberia
  • visit Liberia

Usage Note

Liberia is a proper noun, so it is not usually used with an article unless part of a larger phrase such as 'the Republic of Liberia'. The adjective form is 'Liberian'.

Word family

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the Republic of Liberia

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The name Liberia comes from the Latin word 'liber', meaning 'free'. It was chosen in the early 1800s by the American Colonization Society to reflect the country's purpose as a homeland for freed Black Americans from the United States.