# Iraq

/ˌaɪˈɹɑk/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/iraq
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the country

noun · CEFR A2

a country in the Middle East between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

For teachers: a sovereign nation-state in Western Asia, officially the Republic of Iraq, situated at the northern end of the Persian Gulf.

- Baghdad is the capital and largest city in Iraq.
- Iraq shares its borders with six countries, including Turkey to the north and Kuwait to the southeast.

Usage: Always capitalized as a proper noun.

### 2. historical region

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a large area in history that included modern Iraq and parts of Iran.

For teachers: a historical and geographical designation for a medieval region encompassing Mesopotamia and western Iran.

- Ancient maps of the region show Iraq as a much larger territory.
- The medieval concept of Iraq was divided into 'Arab Iraq' and 'Persian Iraq', reflecting the diverse cultural influences of the era.

Teaching tip: This sense is primarily encountered in historical or academic texts discussing the Islamic Golden Age.

## Examples

- Baghdad is the capital city of Iraq.
- Archaeologists travel to Iraq to study the remains of some of the world's earliest civilizations.
- The fertile plains between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq are often cited as the cradle of civilization, where writing and agriculture first flourished.

---

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.