Appalachia
Americannoun
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a region in the eastern United States, in the area of the southern Appalachian Mountains, usually including northeastern Alabama, northwestern Georgia, northwestern South Carolina, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, western Virginia, eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and eastern Ohio.
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Geology. a Paleozoic landmass, the erosion of which provided the sediments to form the rocks of the Appalachian Mountains.
noun
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A major coal-mining center and one of the most impoverished regions of the country.
Etymology
Origin of Appalachia
First recorded in 1920–25; back formation from Appalachian ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Appalachia is known for its struggles with nutrition, health disparities, diminished access to fresh food, and poverty.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
She spent her lifetime giving back to Appalachia and other regions of her home state, sponsoring literacy programs and building the Dollywood theme park to attract tourism and create jobs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
As a place, Appalachia is just as good as any other, but it is also just as flawed.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
In 2024, she pledged $2m for Hurricane Helene relief in East Tennessee and Appalachia, combining a personal donation with matching support from her businesses and foundation.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
District 12 was in a region known is Appalachia.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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