Carolina

American  

[kar-uh-lahy-nuh, kah-raw-lee-nah] / ˌkær əˈlaɪ nə, ˌkɑ rɔˈli nɑ /

noun

1. a former English colony on the Atlantic coast of North America: officially divided into North Carolina and South Carolina in 1729.

2. North Carolina or South Carolina.

3. a city in northeast Puerto Rico, southeast of San Juan.

4. Also called the Carolinas.  North Carolina and South Carolina.

---

Carolina British  

/ ˌkærəˈlaɪnə /

noun

1. a former English colony on the E coast of North America, first established in 1663: divided in 1729 into North and South Carolina, which are often referred to as the Carolinas

---

Example Sentences

Moss said during the civil hearing that he stored Boyd’s electronic devices in his safe until turning them over to investigators of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division nine weeks later.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

UConn coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley had a heated postgame confrontation after South Carolina’s 62-48 Final Four victory.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

South Carolina has won three championships in the last eight non-COVID-19 seasons.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Since that news, Graham has posted photos of himself shooting clay and doing other community events in South Carolina, and he has threatened sanctions against Spain.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Still, I whined and argued and whined and argued, but here I am in Colby, North Carolina, staring down at this “Getting to Know You” paper.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor