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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

In the age of Name, Image and Likeness compensation, the result is a first-of-its-kind high-school transfer portal that some insiders warn may be the future of scholastic sports in America.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

Bank of America, on Friday, pushed its forecast for rate cuts to mid-2027 from late this year, but caveats there’s a high risk of unexpected outcomes like an “indefinite hold” from the Fed.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

“Everything appears to be very fragile, and that’s very unsettling,” said Joseph Tanious, chief investment strategist for North America at Northern Trust Asset Management.

From MarketWatch • May 10, 2026

Alongside his animations, O'Donoghue regularly contributes to national and local media outlets, including the BBC and PBS in America.

From BBC • May 10, 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