a kingdom in southern Africa, forming an enclave in the Republic of South Africa: annexed to British Cape Colony in 1871; made a protectorate in 1884; gained independence in 1966; a member of the Commonwealth. It is generally mountainous, with temperate grasslands throughout. Languages: Sesotho and English. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: loti and South African rand. Capital: Maseru. Pop: 2 233 339 (2017 est). Area: 30 344 sq km (11 716 sq miles)
Former name (1884–1966): Basutoland
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
Le•so•tho
(lə so̅o̅′to̅o̅, -sō′tō),USA pronunciation n.
- Place Namesa monarchy in S Africa: formerly a British protectorate;
gained independence 1966;
member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 2,007,814;
11,716 sq. mi. (30,344 sq. km). Cap.: Maseru. Formerly, Basutoland.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'Lesotho' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Basutoland
- Drakensberg
- Maseru
- Moshesh
- Moshoeshoe II
- Orange
- Sesotho
- Sotho
- Thabana-Ntlenyana
- loti
- orange
- sente