Hai·ti (h  t ) A country of the West Indies comprising western Hispaniola and two offshore islands. Originally inhabited by Arawak Indians, the region became a French colony in 1697. Following a slave revolt led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, an independent republic was established in 1804 comprising the entire island of Hispaniola. The eastern part of the island revolted in 1843, forming the Dominican Republic. In the 20th century Haiti was ruled by a series of dictatorships, including the repressive regimes of François Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude, who was ousted in 1986. Jean-Bertrand Aristide became Haiti's first democratically elected president in 1991. Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city. Population: 8,710,000. |   |
Haiti [ˈheɪtɪ hɑːˈiːtɪ]
n
1. (Placename) a republic occupying the W part of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, the E part consisting of the Dominican Republic: ceded by Spain to France in 1697 and became one of the richest colonial possessions in the world, with numerous plantations; slaves rebelled under Toussaint L'Ouverture in 1793 and defeated the French; taken over by the US (1915-41) after long political and economic chaos; under the authoritarian regimes of François Duvalier (1957-71) and his son Jean-Claude Duvalier (1971-86); returned to civilian rule in 1990, but another coup in 1991 brought military rule, which was ended in 1994 with US intervention. Official languages: French and Haitian creole. Religions: Roman Catholic and voodoo. Currency: gourde. Capital: Port-au-Prince. Pop.: 6 965 000 (2001 est.). Area: 27 749 sq. km (10 714 sq. miles)
2. (Placename) a former name for Hispaniola
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  Haiti - a republic in the West Indies on the western part of the island of Hispaniola; achieved independence from France in 1804; the poorest and most illiterate nation in the western hemispherevoodoo - (Haiti) followers of a religion that involves witchcraft and animistic deities OAS, Organization of American States - an association including most countries in the western hemisphere; created in 1948 to promote military and economic and social and cultural cooperation Caribbean - region including the Caribbean Islands Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince - the capital and largest city of Haiti Haitian - a native or inhabitant of Haiti |
| 2. |  Haiti - an island in the West Indies Greater Antilles - a group of islands in the western West Indies Haiti, Republic of Haiti - a republic in the West Indies on the western part of the island of Hispaniola; achieved independence from France in 1804; the poorest and most illiterate nation in the western hemisphere Dominican Republic - a republic in the West Indies; located on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola |
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