America

[uh-mer-i-kuh]

noun

1. United States.

2. North America.

3. South America.

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

America

/ əˈmɛrɪkə /

noun

1. short for the United States of America

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

“America”

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.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of America¹

C16: from Americus , Latin form of Amerigo ; after Amerigo _Vespucci

Example Sentences

Jamie Dimon, who leads America's largest bank, said he was "far more worried than others" about a serious market correction, which he said could come in the next six months to two years.

Read more on BBC

Wales take on Thomas Tuchel's side off the back of a disappointing friendly defeat by Canada in September, yet still have a good chance of qualifying for next summer's World Cup in North America.

Read more on BBC

Ten of the 11 World Cups held in Europe have been won by European teams, but it is a completely different story when the tournament is played in the Americas.

Read more on BBC

That line resonated deeply within David, he told me, “because it’s the reality that I live. I’m a Black man in America.”

Read more on Salon

The UK's history of slavery dates back to before the Roman Times, but its involvement in the large-scale transatlantic slave trade, transporting millions of African people to the Americas, began in around the 16th Century.

Read more on BBC

When To Use

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.”