Minnesota

American  

[min-uh-soh-tuh] / ˌmɪn əˈsoʊ tə /

noun

1. a state in the northern central United States. 84,068 sq. mi. (217,735 sq. km). St. Paul. MN (for use with zip code), Minn.

2. a river flowing southeast from the western border of Minnesota into the Mississippi near St. Paul. 332 miles (535 km) long.

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Minnesota British  

/ ˌmɪnɪˈsəʊtə /

noun

1. Abbreviation: Minn.   MN.  a state of the N central US: chief US producer of iron ore. Capital: St Paul. Pop: 5 059 375 (2003 est). Area: 218 600 sq km (84 402 sq miles)

2. a river in S Minnesota, flowing southeast and northeast to the Mississippi River near St Paul. Length: 534 km (332 miles)

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Minnesota Cultural  

1. State in the north-central United States bordered by Manitoba and Ontario, Canada, to the north; Lake Superior and Wisconsin to the east; Iowa to the south; and South Dakota and North Dakota to the west. Its capital is St. Paul, and its largest city is Minneapolis.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Minnesotan
  adjective

Example Sentences

A University of Minnesota scientist, Jian-Ping Wang, cracked it a decade ago by using techniques adapted from semiconductor manufacturing to make an ultrathin film.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

The citizen mobilization in Minnesota and the No Kings rallies are examples of that.

From Salon • May 28, 2026

The boycott put Phillips Distilling, the family-owned maker of Sour Puss based in Minnesota, into a tight spot.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

The law office of John Burris, an Oakland-based attorney who represented Rodney King after he was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers in 1991, has taken on damages clients in Minnesota.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

Ever since I arrived in Minnesota people have been warning me about the extreme cold that’s on the way.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline