United States

American  

[yoo-nahy-tid steyts] / juˈnaɪ tɪd ˈsteɪts /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. Official Name United States of America.  a federal republic in the northern Western Hemisphere comprising 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Alaska in North America, and Hawaii in the North Pacific, and in some contexts considered along with its five inhabited island territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, North Mariana Islands,American Samoa ). Conterminous United States, 3,119,885 square miles (8,080,465 square kilometers); with Alaska and Hawaii, 3,796,742 square miles (9,833,517 square kilometers); all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the island territories, 3,805,927 square miles (9,857,306 square kilometers) Washington, D.C. U.S., US

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Other Word Forms

• anti–United States
  adjective
• pro–United States
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of United States

First recorded in 1600–10, in reference to the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and in 1770–80 for the United States of America ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

United States

The 27-year-old had a full medical after initial tests in the United States had flagged an area of concern.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

India said 10 of its nationals had been rescued and one remained missing after a strike early Sunday on a vessel off the coast of Oman, which the United States blamed on Iran.

From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026

Few British prime ministers besides Winston Churchill or Margaret Thatcher have wide public recognition in the United States.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

The opening words of the 14th Amendment of 1868 say: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

There are probably neighborhoods or streets called Brightwood all over the United States.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse