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.
Shows for the top 100 tours in North America grossed a total of $1.9 billion, the same as last year, according to Pollstar.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 27, 2026
"In Latin America we don't do soccer like this. You go directly to the stadium or to the streets," he added, standing next to a display case of watches priced up to $1,495.
From Barron's • Jun. 27, 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
America was not ahead of Russia in space technology, as we’d previously believed.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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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.