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

Kelly said Trump had "proudly made the United States the crypto capital of the world."

From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026

“He earned the title of United States Marine and served his country with honor and commitment,” Alvarez said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026

England supporters in the United States have been praised by police for their "excellent" behaviour during the group stage of the World Cup, but domestic incidents are up on recent tournaments.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

Birthright citizenship comes from the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads, in part, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2026

Still, Maggie managed to keep her promise … until she heard from the First Lady of the United States.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock