balkans
n. plural-onlyn. a large area in Southeast Europe that includes many different countries and cultures. It is named after a mountain range that runs through the region.
n. a geopolitical and cultural region in Southeast Europe, defined by the Balkan Peninsula and its shared historical and social characteristics. When capitalised, it refers to the collective group of nations in this territory.
Many tourists visit the Balkans for the beautiful mountains and history.
Diplomatic efforts in the Balkans often focus on regional cooperation and economic integration between neighboring states.
The complex history of the Balkans has been shaped by its position as a crossroads between major empires, leading to a rich but often contested cultural heritage.
Always capitalised. As a pluralia tantum noun, it takes a plural verb ('The Balkans are...') and is almost always preceded by the definite article 'the'.