Banana Republic Definition

noun

A small country that is economically dependent on a single export commodity, such as bananas, and is typically governed by a dictator or the armed forces.

American Heritage

Any small, typically Latin American, country characterized by political instability and a one-crop economy controlled by foreign capital.

Webster's New World

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

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Banana Republic

Noun

Singular:

banana republic

Plural:

banana-republics

Origin of Banana Republic

Coined by American author O. Henry in his 1904 book of short stories, "Cabbages and Kings", set in the fictional "Anchuria", which was based on his 1896-97 stay in Honduras.

From Wiktionary