America
Americannoun
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Also called the Americas. North and South America considered together.
noun
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short for the United States of America
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Also called: the Americas. the American continent, including North, South, and Central America
Usage
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.”
Etymology
Origin of America
C16: from Americus , Latin form of Amerigo ; after Amerigo Vespucci
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It isn’t exactly what the world soccer powers had in mind when they kicked off the great “debranding” of stadiums across North America.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 27, 2026
Bank preferreds from JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America yield in the 6% to 6.5% range now.
From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026
Though the genre originated in Cuba, it quickly gained popularity across Latin America, with each culture putting their own spin on it.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026
GTA V has sold nearly 230 million copies, and the launch of its successor is expected to be such a major economic event that Bank of America has weighed in on its price, external.
From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026
But Joey wants to stay where she is, looking straight ahead at a future in America.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.