United States

American  

[yoo-nahy-tid steyts] / juˈnaɪ tɪd ˈsteɪts /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. Official Name United States of America.  a federal republic in the northern Western Hemisphere comprising 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Alaska in North America, and Hawaii in the North Pacific, and in some contexts considered along with its five inhabited island territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, North Mariana Islands,American Samoa ). Conterminous United States, 3,119,885 square miles (8,080,465 square kilometers); with Alaska and Hawaii, 3,796,742 square miles (9,833,517 square kilometers); all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the island territories, 3,805,927 square miles (9,857,306 square kilometers) Washington, D.C. U.S., US

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Other Word Forms

• anti–United States
  adjective
• pro–United States
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of United States

First recorded in 1600–10, in reference to the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and in 1770–80 for the United States of America ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

United States

United States women's national team player Savannah DeMelo is suing a hospital and two doctors after she suffered a heart attack on the pitch last year.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

"There's not a consensus, by any means, that's crystallized in the United States on what, if anything, to do about AI," he said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026

“The United States enforces the federal antitrust laws and has a strong interest in their correct application,” the Justice Department said in a Tuesday filing, describing its unique position to bring antitrust actions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

The other industry rep is a Ph.D. and former director of the United States Geological Survey.

From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026

Daughter Elizabeth married, and stayed in Canada, but the rest of the Foxes returned to Rochester, which was fast becoming one of the largest cities in the United States.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock