Formerly British Honduras. A country of Central America on the Caribbean Sea. A British colony in the late 19th century, it became self-governing in 1964 and independent in 1981. Belmopan is the capital. Population: 294,000.
also Belize City. The largest city of Belize, in the eastern part of the country on the Caribbean Sea at the mouth of the Belize River. It was devastated by a hurricane in 1961. The capital was moved from here to Belmopan in 1970. Population: 63,700.
(bə-lēz') 
