District of Columbia

American  

noun

1. a federal area in the eastern United States, on the Potomac, coextensive with the federal capital, Washington. 69 sq. mi. (179 sq. km). DC (for use with zip code), D.C.

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District of Columbia British  

noun

1. Abbreviation: D.C..   DC.  a federal district of the eastern US, coextensive with the federal capital, Washington. Pop: 564 326 (2003 est). Area: 178 sq km (69 sq miles)

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District of Columbia Cultural  

1. The district occupied entirely by Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States; bordered by Maryland to the north and Virginia to the south.

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The District of Columbia was established by acts of Congress in 1790 and 1791 on a site selected by George Washington.

Example Sentences

As a high school junior, I went on a weekend retreat to the District of Columbia with other students.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

A Department of Justice investigation was dropped in April, but Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said she would “not hesitate” to reopen the inquiry if warranted.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard argument in two cases about when the president can target private attorneys.

From Slate • May 15, 2026

Roughly a quarter of U.S. gasoline is a cleaner-burning blend of petroleum-derived chemicals called “reformulated gasoline,” which is required in urban areas across 17 states and the District of Columbia to reduce smog.

From Salon • May 13, 2026

Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia prohibit people from voting while incarcerated for a felony offense.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander