# banana republic

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/banana-republic
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A small country, especially one in Central America or the West Indies, that is dependent on a single export commodity (traditionally bananas) and that has a corrupt, dictatorial government.

## Examples

- The country is a banana republic with no real laws.
- The dictator runs the country like a banana republic to get rich.
- The citizens protested against the corrupt leaders, claiming their nation had become a banana republic controlled by foreign companies.
- Critics argue that when a single fruit company owns all the land and pays off the police, the nation functions as a banana republic.
- Investors are often afraid to put money into a banana republic because the laws change whenever the leader needs more cash.
- Economic instability and systemic corruption transformed the once-prosperous nation into a classic banana republic, where the government served only the interests of a few wealthy exporters.

## Origin

Coined by American author O. Henry in 1901 in his short story Money Maze, set in the fictional "Anchuria", which was based on his 1896–97 stay in Honduras.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.