Mississippi

American  

[mis-uh-sip-ee] / ˌmɪs əˈsɪp i /

noun

1. a state in the southern United States. 47,716 sq. mi. (123,585 sq. km). Jackson. MS (for use with zip code), Miss.

2. a river flowing south from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico: the principal river of the United States. 2,470 miles (3,975 km) long; from the headwaters of the Missouri to the Gulf of Mexico 3,988 miles (6,418 km) long.

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Mississippi British  

/ ˌmɪsɪˈsɪpɪ /

noun

1. Abbreviation: Miss.   MS.  a state of the southeastern US, on the Gulf of Mexico: consists of a largely forested undulating plain, with swampy regions in the northwest and on the coast, the Mississippi River forming the W border; cotton, rice, and oil. Capital: Jackson. Pop: 2 881 281 (2003 est). Area: 122 496 sq km (47 296 sq miles)

2. a river in the central US, rising in NW Minnesota and flowing generally south to the Gulf of Mexico through several mouths, known as the Passes: the second longest river in North America (after its tributary, the Missouri), with the third largest drainage basin in the world (after the Amazon and the Congo). Length: 3780 km (2348 miles)

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Mississippi Cultural  

1. State in the southern United States bordered by Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana to the south, and Louisiana and Arkansas to the west. Its capital and largest city is Jackson.

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Discover More

One of the Confederate states during the Civil War.

Its name comes from the Mississippi River, which forms most of the state's western border.

Example Sentences

Prior to this road trip, the furthest my dog had traveled from home was Mississippi — about two hours away — for a disastrous night in a cabin I’d rented for my ex’s 40th birthday.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2026

Hawk previously had given up just three homers on the season and hadn’t surrendered one since March 1 against Mississippi State.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

Both Pitchford and Flowers were prosecuted by the same district attorney, Doug Evans, who was repeatedly accused of improperly dismissing Black jurors during his more than 30 years as the chief prosecutor in central Mississippi.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

It revealed that SpaceX, which is also building a $20 billion data center in Mississippi, has “meaningfully underused” its capacity, he added.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

It is the biggest dam in America east of the Mississippi and something of an attraction for people who like concrete in volume.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson