United States of America

American  

[yoo-nahy-tid steyts uhv uh-mer-i-kuh] / juˈnaɪ tɪd ˈsteɪts əv əˈmɛr ɪ kə /

noun

1. official name of the United States. U.S.A., USA

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United States of America British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: United States.   US.   USA.  (functioning as singular or plural) a federal republic mainly in North America consisting of 50 states and the District of Columbia: colonized principally by the English and French in the 17th century, the native Indians being gradually defeated and displaced; 13 colonies under British rule made the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and became the United States after the War of American Independence. The northern states defeated the South in the Civil War (1861–65). It is the world's most productive industrial nation and also exports agricultural products. It consists generally of the Rocky Mountains in the west, the Great Plains in the centre, the Appalachians in the east, deserts in the southwest, and coastal lowlands and swamps in the southeast. Language: predominantly English; Spanish is also widely spoken. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: dollar. Capital: Washington, DC. Pop: 316 668 567 (2013 est). Area: 9 518 323 sq km (3 675 031 sq miles)

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Etymology

Origin of United States of America

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

United States of America

Maybe we should turn over a new leaf in the relationship with the United States of America.’

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

"It is not a crime to touch the Reflecting Pool, to touch water, in the United States of America," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Saturday marks the 250th anniversary of when the Declaration of Independence was adopted, marking the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026

"This is a gift to the United States of America," Trump said last month as he took reporters on a tour of the building site, shouting over the noise of hammers and buzzsaws.

From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026

And Abdulrahman Zeitoun existed before, and exists again, in the city of New Orleans and the United States of America.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers