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• America
  America

  noun

  United States.
• “America”
  “America”

  An American patriotic hymn from the nineteenth century, sung to the tune of the national anthem of Great Britain, “God Save the Queen.” It begins, “My country, 'tis of thee.”

America

American  

[uh-mer-i-kuh] / əˈmɛr ɪ kə /

noun

1. United States.

2. North America.

3. South America.

4. Also called the Americas. North and South America considered together.

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America British  

/ əˈmɛrɪkə /

noun

1. short for the United States of America

2. Also called: the Americas. the American continent, including North, South, and Central America

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“America” Cultural  

1. An American patriotic hymn from the nineteenth century, sung to the tune of the national anthem of Great Britain, “God Save the Queen.” It begins, “My country, 'tis of thee.”

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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

See Examples For:

America “America”

On the other hand, it has benefited from higher prices and its traders being able to sell liquefied natural gas from North America to higher-paying European customers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

That enormous concentration of water pulls Earth's center of mass 2.2 millimeters toward South America.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

He was a hammer meeting a nail, traveling to the run down parts of towns all over America to shore things up — to entertain rather than win over audiences.

From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026

It has taken the biggest hit after the war with Iran sent gas prices soaring, hurting the beleaguered industry that hauls 70% of all freight in America.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

It was Patch who had to go to America, Patch who had to have that chance.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

And finally, lovers of Maurizio Cattelan’s “America”, rejoice.

From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2025

The artist initially intended to create five matching versions of his toilet, which he titled “America” as a way to question which spaces in a museum get deemed sacred versus profane.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025

Rivera was said to dazzle in dance-heavy musical numbers like “America” in “West Side Story,” “One Boy” and “Spanish Rose” in “Bye Bye Birdie,” and “All That Jazz” in “Chicago.”

From Salon ● Jan. 30, 2024

She sang enduring numbers in those roles: “America” in “West Side Story,” “One Boy” and “Spanish Rose” in “Bye Bye Birdie,” and “All That Jazz” in “Chicago.”

From New York Times ● Jan. 30, 2024

“America” suggests all these and then it suggests spirit.

From The Short Constitution by William F. Russell