Definition of "Ruthenia"

The territory between Central and Eastern Europe inhabited by Rusyns, on the slopes of the Carpathian Mountains in parts of Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia.  examples

(historical) Lands inhabited by Ukrainians (Ruthenians) of the former Austrian Empire kingdom of Galicia (1772–1918), corresponding to parts of Western Ukraine.

(historical) Western portions of East Slavic lands, including the principalities of Galicia-Volhynia and Kyiv, which united with Lithuania and Poland (14th c–1772), corresponding to what is now Ukraine and Belarus.

(historical) Rus, an East Slavic medieval state (880–12th c), corresponding to what is now Ukraine and Belarus, as well as western Russia.