America

[uh-mer-i-kuh]

noun

1. United States.

2. North America.

3. South America.

4. Also called the Americas. North and South America considered together.

America

/ əˈmɛrɪkə /

noun

1. short for the United States of America

2. Also called: the Americas. the American continent, including North, South, and Central America

“America”

1. An American patriotic hymn from the nineteenth century, sung to the tune of the national anthem of Great Britain, “God Save the Queen.” It begins, “My country, 'tis of thee.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of “America”¹

C16: from Americus , Latin form of Amerigo ; after Amerigo _Vespucci

Example Sentences

The story unfolding in America’s coastal towns isn’t just about hunger; it’s about the erosion of stability.

Read more on Salon

Justice Department spokesman Chad Gilmartin declined to comment on grand jury matters but said the agency is “united as one team in our mission to make America safe again.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But here’s the problem with levying tariffs on Canadian oil: America needs it.

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Bird flu has already cost America billions — and if it mutates to allow for human-to-human transmission, the cost could soar into the hundreds of billions or even trillions of dollars.

Read more on Salon

Lest we forget our past, America is the great democratic experiment precisely because it’s a land of immigrants.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When To Use

Spelling tips for America

It can be difficult to remember how to spell the word America because it’s a place name that’s thought to be derived from a person’s name (Amerigo Vespucci). How to spell America: To remember how to spell America, think of a woman named Erica introducing herself: “Hi, I am Erica.”