Kentucky

American  

[kuhn-tuhk-ee] / kənˈtʌk i /

noun

1. a state in the east central United States. 40,395 sq. mi. (104,625 sq. km). Frankfort. KY (for use with zip code), Ken., Ky.

2. a river flowing northwest from eastern Kentucky to the Ohio River. 259 miles (415 km) long.

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Kentucky British  

/ kɛnˈtʌkɪ /

noun

1. Abbreviation: Ken..   Ky..   KY.  a state of the S central US: consists of an undulating plain in the west, the Bluegrass region in the centre, the Tennessee and Ohio River basins in the southwest, and the Appalachians in the east. Capital: Frankfort. Pop: 4 117 827 (2003 est). Area: 102 693 sq km (39 650 sq miles)

2. a river in central Kentucky, rising in the Cumberland Mountains and flowing northwest to the Ohio River. Length: 417 km (259 miles)

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Kentucky Cultural  

1. State in the east-central United States bordered by Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to the east; Tennessee to the south; and Missouri to the west. Its capital is Frankfort. Louisville is its largest city.

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Discover More

The state is known for the breeding of race horses. The Kentucky Derby, a famous horse race, is held every year in Louisville.

Kentucky bluegrass is a type of folk music that originated in the southern United States. The music is named for a bluish-tinged grass that grows in Kentucky.

Other Word Forms

• Kentuckian adjective

Example Sentences

But a wave of legislation in states such as Kentucky, Minnesota and New Hampshire has added e-tabs to the mix.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Though University of Kentucky head coach Mark Pope called it “100% false” in a subsequent interview, the numbers being thrown around show just how big a business college sports have become.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

Earlier in the afternoon, the final two major prep races for the Kentucky Derby were held at Keeneland and Aqueduct, with each likely producing a pair of starters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

The Kentucky men’s basketball roster makes a combined $22 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

But Granville’s presence probably did work against Seabiscuit, simply by virtue of the demands that a Kentucky Derby contender makes on his trainer.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand