Minnesota

American  

[min-uh-soh-tuh] / ˌmɪn əˈsoʊ tə /

noun

1. a state in the northern central United States. 84,068 sq. mi. (217,735 sq. km). St. Paul. MN (for use with zip code), Minn.

2. a river flowing southeast from the western border of Minnesota into the Mississippi near St. Paul. 332 miles (535 km) long.

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Minnesota British  

/ ˌmɪnɪˈsəʊtə /

noun

1. Abbreviation: Minn.   MN.  a state of the N central US: chief US producer of iron ore. Capital: St Paul. Pop: 5 059 375 (2003 est). Area: 218 600 sq km (84 402 sq miles)

2. a river in S Minnesota, flowing southeast and northeast to the Mississippi River near St Paul. Length: 534 km (332 miles)

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Minnesota Cultural  

1. State in the north-central United States bordered by Manitoba and Ontario, Canada, to the north; Lake Superior and Wisconsin to the east; Iowa to the south; and South Dakota and North Dakota to the west. Its capital is St. Paul, and its largest city is Minneapolis.

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Other Word Forms

• Minnesotan adjective

Example Sentences

The justice department under her tenure faced questions over its handling of the investigation into federal immigration agents fatally shooting two people during confrontations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which sparked nationwide demonstrations in January.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

The family that includes a 10, 11 and 18-year-old had come into town from Minnesota for a baseball trip -- "we didn't know it was happening until we got down here," she told AFP.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Former tight end Steve Jordan, who played nine seasons with Browner in Minnesota, recently visited his former teammate in the Twin Cities, according to a Vikings news release.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

There has been mounting controversy over the actions of ICE agents, particularly in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where US citizens Good and Pretti were shot by federal agents during operations earlier this year.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

For the first time since I stepped off the train in Minnesota more than a year ago, I feel safe.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline