statehood

American  

[steyt-hood] / ˈsteɪt hʊd /

noun

1. the status or condition of being a state, especially a state of the U.S.

---

Etymology

Origin of statehood

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; state + -hood

Example Sentences

After statehood in 1971, it used that petroleum wealth to transform itself into a global center of finance, tourism, and tech built around the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

After Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign defeat, he was elected in 1990 as a shadow senator for Washington, D.C. — a position created to lobby Congress for D.C. statehood.

From Salon • Feb. 17, 2026

By the time of statehood in 1850, according to one estimate, there had been around 500 to 1,500 enslaved people brought to California, their status obscured even after the state constitution was enacted.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2026

Somaliland's president on Friday welcomed Israel's announcement that it was recognising its statehood and said the decision marked the beginning of a "strategic partnership".

From Barron's • Dec. 26, 2025

Neither North Carolina nor the US government recognized its bid for statehood, but they lacked the resources to force Franklin back into North Carolina’s control.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz