'Merica

American  

[mer-i-kuh] / ˈmɛr ɪ kə /

Also 'Murica, or Merica

noun

Informal.

1. contraction of America (often used humorously to suggest either a sarcastic or patriotic sentiment).

   Wage earners here in ’Merica are no better off.

   Can’t wait to get back to ’Merica!

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Etymology

Origin of 'Merica

First recorded in 1800–05 ; by loss of initial, unaccented syllable of America ( def. ) (in the sense “United States of America”)

Example Sentences

“A Working Man” molds the Levon character to Statham, making him a British soldier and tilting the book’s axis of evil away from “ ‘Merica good, everyone else bad.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2025

While arguments about whether it should be ‘Merica or ‘Murica might lead to fisticuffs in some quarters, a dominant spelling of the even the most outlandish spoken phrases typically rises above the rest, she adds.

From Time • Sep. 12, 2016

De gals was me and Mary, 'Merica, Hannah, Betsy, and Emma.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Georgia Narratives, Part 3 by Work Projects Administration

"Bawst'n, 'Merica, 's where she's bound this v'y'ge, Mister, an' ef she did it in twenty days I shouldn' be a bit s'prised, not a bit, I shouldn'."

From Maid of the Mist by Oxenham, John

Why we came right through it all the way from 'Merica.

From 'Me and Nobbles' by Le Feuvre, Amy