top definitions
quizzes
examples
explore dictionary
british
cultural

Oregon

[ awr-i-guh n, ‐gon, or‐ ]

/ ˈɔr ɪ gən, ‐ˌgɒn, ˈɒr‐ /

noun

a state in the NW United States, on the Pacific coast. 96,981 sq. mi. (251,180 sq. km). Capital: Salem. Abbreviation: Oreg., Ore., OR (for use with zip code).

a city in NW Ohio.

VIDEO FOR OREGON

WATCH NOW: Have You Been Pronouncing These US Places Correctly?

This woman took a road trip across the US and found out she was pronouncing a lot of state and city names ... wrong. Have you been pronouncing them incorrectly too?

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT 2ND-3RD GRADE VOCAB FROM BOOKS!

Are you learning new vocabulary? Or do you just have an interest in words? Either way, this quiz is for you.

Question 1 of 10

orchard

body of land completely surrounded by water

group of cultivated fruit trees

long mournful cry

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Oregon

First recorded in 1870–75

OTHER WORDS FROM Oregon

Or·e·go·ni·an

[awr-i-goh-nee-uh n, or‐] /ˌɔr ɪˈgoʊ ni ən, ˌɒr‐/, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for oregon

Electric Swamp Blues How can you possibly find authentic swamp blues in Portland, Oregon?
The Best Albums of 2014|Ted Gioia|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As southern California turns to desert western Canada could follow Oregon and Washington states as a contender in top class wines.
Beer Countries vs. Wine Countries|Clive Irving|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was a logic to it – many of the wines were from the Pacific Northwest, principally from Oregon and Washington state.
Beer Countries vs. Wine Countries|Clive Irving|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cvetkovich claimed her husband had kidnapped her two young children and took off for Oregon in search of Masters.
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio|Caitlin Dickson|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Seventy three percent of students at David Douglas High School in Portland, Oregon are low-income.
What It Takes to Fix American Education|Jonah Edelman|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is believed that the other evangelical denominations in Oregon have spoken with the same distinctness and the same confidence.
A History of Oregon, 1792-1849|William Henry Gray
Colonel Baker had been senator for Oregon, and was well known as an orator.
North America, Volume I (of 2)|Anthony Trollope
Lee emigrated from the southwestern states, and immediately became a leader in Oregon politics.
Early Western Travels 1748-1846, Volume XXX|Joel Palmer
In several previous volumes of our series we have witnessed the beginnings of Oregon civilization.
Early Western Travels 1748-1846, Volume XXX|Joel Palmer
This was unfortunate perhaps for Oregon, and the whole Columbia region; but over it Portland rejoiced, and continued to wax fat.
Across America|James F. Rusling

British Dictionary definitions for oregon

Oregon

/ (ˈɒrɪɡən) /

noun

a state of the northwestern US, on the Pacific: consists of the Coast and Cascade Ranges in the west and a plateau in the east; important timber production. Capital: Salem. Pop: 3 559 596 (2003 est). Area: 251 418 sq km (97 073 sq miles)Abbreviation: Oreg., (with zip code) OR

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for oregon

Oregon

State in the northwestern United States bordered by Washington to the north, Idaho to the east, Nevada and California to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its capital is Salem, and its largest city is Portland.

notes for Oregon

Before the coming of the railroads, the Oregon Trail was used as an overland emigration route from the Missouri River to the Columbia River country (all of which was then called Oregon).

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Emoji Challenge! Test Yourself!