blue state

American  

[bloo steyt] / 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

The findings are remarkably consistent with past polling on the Republican president in the nation’s most populous blue state, said Mark DiCamillo, director of the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies Poll.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2025

At one extreme is the very blue state of Vermont, where around 62% of adults have gotten boosted in the past 12 months.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 28, 2023

Of the 896 GOP voters surveyed, Mr. Hogan, who is term-limited after eight years helming his historically blue state, had one voter tap him as their top pick in a hypothetical 2024 GOP presidential race.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 28, 2022

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

From The Boss of Little Arcady by Wilson, Harry Leon