blue state

American  

[bloo stayt] / ˈblu ˌsteɪt /

noun

U.S. Politics.

1. a state of the U.S. that usually votes Democratic.

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Etymology

Origin of blue state

With reference to the color used on maps in televised coverage of the 2000 U.S. presidential election to show the states won by the Democratic candidate

Compare meaning

How does blue-state compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• blue state vs. red state

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

blue state

And then the next most heavily Black district in a blue state is only 52 or 53 percent Black.

From Slate ● May 7, 2026

“Cloud seeding is a water supply tool, and whether you’re a farmer in a red state or an environmentalist in a blue state, water is as nonpartisan as it gets,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2025

Scott stands out for having some independent appeal in our blue state, as he scored donations from Microsoft president Brad Smith and the Gates Foundation’s Melinda Gates.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 19, 2023

“Comparing states is tricky and people will likely go to red state, blue state, which is not the most helpful framing,” Sean Reardon, a professor of education at Stanford University, told Sarah.

From New York Times ● Oct. 25, 2022

Had it principal industries, like any red, or green, or blue state on that pedantic map?

From The Boss of Little Arcady by Harry Leon Wilson