West Germany

== English == === Etymology === From informal use describing the British-, French-, and American-occupied zones of Germany following World War II, under influence from existing German Westdeutschland and Westdeutscher used to describe those areas of German-speaking Europe since the 17th and 18th centuries. === Pronunciation === === Proper noun === West Germany (historical, 1949–1990) A former country in Central Europe, distinguished from the German Democratic Republic, commonly known as East Germany. Official name: Federal Republic of Germany. (since 1990) A geographic region of Germany, consisting of the states formerly part of the Cold War-era West Germany, also known as Western Germany. (historical, uncommon, 1945–1949) Collectively, the British-, French-, and American-occupied zones of Germany, distinguished from the Soviet-occupied zone. ==== Synonyms ==== Federal Republic of Germany (FRG, BRD) Free Germany (laudatory) West German State (rare) ==== Related terms ==== West German, Wessi East Germany, East German, Ossi ==== Translations ==== === References ===