- an island in E Asia between the East China Sea and the South China Sea, off the SE coast of the People's Republic of China: the principal territory of the Republic of China; claimed by the People's Republic of China since its political separation from mainland China in the late 1940s. Pop: 23 626 456 (2017 est)Former name: Formosa
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Tai•wan
(tī′wän′),USA pronunciation n. [Wade-Giles, Pinyin.]
- Place Namesa Chinese island separated from the SE coast of China by Taiwan Strait: a possession of Japan 1895–1945;
restored to China 1945;
seat of the Republic of China since 1949. Cap.: Taipei. Also called Formosa.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Taiwan /ˈtaɪˈwɑːn/ n
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
China /ˈtʃaɪnə/ n
- People's Republic of China ⇒ a republic in E Asia: the third largest and the most populous country in the world; the oldest continuing civilization (beginning over 2000 years bc); republic established in 1911 after the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty by Sun Yat-sen; People's Republic formed in 1949; the 1980s and 1990s saw economic liberalization but a rejection of political reform; contains vast deserts, steppes, great mountain ranges (Himalayas, Kunlun, Tian Shan, and Nan Shan), a central rugged plateau, and intensively cultivated E plains. Language: Chinese in various dialects, the chief of which is Mandarin. Religion: officially nonreligious, but with Buddhist and Taoist minorities. Currency: yuan. Capital: Beijing. Pop: 1 417 504 847 (2017 est). Area: 9 560 990 sq km (3 691 502 sq miles)
- Republic of China, Nationalist China, Taiwan ⇒ a republic (recognized as independent by only a small number of nations) in E Asia occupying the island of Taiwan, 13 nearby islands, and 64 islands of the Penghu (Pescadores) group. Language: Mandarin Chinese. Religion: significant Buddhist and Taoist minorities. Currency: New Taiwan dollar. Capital: Taipei. Pop: 22 610 000 (2003 est). Area: 35 981 sq km (13 892 sq miles)Former name: Formosa
Related adjective(s): Sinitic
'Taiwan' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Amoy
- borlotti bean
- bubble tea
- cent
- Chiang Ching-kuo
- Chiang Kai-shek
- China
- China Sea
- dollar
- East Asia
- Formosa
- Formosa Strait
- Kaohsiung
- Keelung
- Matsu
- Pescadores
- Quemoy
- rice paper
- Ryukyu Islands
- Taichung
- Tainan
- Taipei
- Taiwanese
- Taiwan Strait
- Austronesian
- Chiai
- Chilung
- East China Sea
- Easter lily
- Fujian
- Fukienese
- Fuzhou
- Hakka
- Hungtow Island
- Japan Current
- Kuomintang
- mainland China
- nunchaku
- oolong
- Penghu
- Quanzhou
- Ryukyu
- Xiamen
- Yami