'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

There's the millions over seas, hundreds of millions, Chinese, M'rocco, Africa generally, 'Merica....

From Tono Bungay by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

A man sells everything he owns to get to 'Merica, an' when he gets there what does he find?

From T. Tembarom by Burnett, Frances Hodgson

I come from ’Merica, over there, though I don’t belong to the parts she’s going to; but you see I’ve got some business at Quebec, and so I’m going there first.”

From Peter the Whaler by Austin, Henry