California

American  

[kal-uh-fawrn-yuh, -fawr-nee-uh] / ˌkæl əˈfɔrn yə, -ˈfɔr ni ə /

noun

1. a state in the western United States, on the Pacific coast. 158,693 square miles (411,015 square kilometers). Sacramento. CA (for use with zip code), Cal., Calif.

2. Gulf of California, an arm of the Pacific Ocean, extending northwest between the coast of western Mexico and the peninsula of Baja California. About 750 miles (1,207 kilometers) long; 62,600 square miles (162,100 square kilometers).

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California British  

/ ˌkælɪˈfɔːnɪə /

noun

1. Abbreviation: Cal..   Calif..   CA.  a state on the W coast of the US: the third largest state in area and the largest in population; consists of a narrow, warm coastal plain rising to the Coast Range, deserts in the south, the fertile central valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, and the mountains of the Sierra Nevada in the east; major industries include the growing of citrus fruits and grapes, fishing, oil production, electronics, information technology, and films. Capital: Sacramento. Pop: 35 484 453 (2003 est). Area: 411 015 sq km (158 693 sq miles)

2. an arm of the Pacific Ocean, between Sonora and Lower California

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California Cultural  

1. State in the Far West bordered by Oregon to the north; Nevada and Arizona to the east; Baja California, Mexico, to the south; and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its capital is Sacramento, and its largest city is Los Angeles.

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Discover More

The state is famous for all the fads and ideas that originate there, many of which are considered strange or eccentric.

California is the most populous state. It is known for its earthquakes, high-tech (see also high-tech) industries (see Silicon Valley), and agriculture.

During the California gold rush tens of thousands of people poured into California in search of gold. It is sometimes called the “Golden State.” (See forty-niners.)

Other Word Forms

• Californian adjective

Example Sentences

Travelers from Canada and the Middle East visited California in significantly fewer numbers in 2025, with arrivals from those regions down 18% and 30%, respectively.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

If the landlord is not, some states like California require them to make those reports at the tenant’s request.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 25, 2026

Chloey Cho, a 19-year-old wrapping up her freshman year at the University of California, Los Angeles, has already completed four internships alongside her studies, two in finance and two in marketing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

“Somehow the general public doesn’t quite seem to understand that there are different hospices,” said Jennifer Moore Ballentine, chief executive of Coalition for Compassionate Care of California.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

He remained inside his office in Cupertino, California, big enough for a staff of twenty-five people, but the fund was shuttered and the office was empty.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis