United States

American  

[yoo-nahy-tid steyts] / yuˈnaɪ 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

---

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

"I'm not particularly worried there will be much onward spread of hantavirus," Jennifer Nuzzo, a professor of epidemiology at Brown University in the United States, wrote on Bluesky.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Experts said it is part of a larger effort by the government to recruit allies in local governments across the United States.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

In January, US firm Energy Fuels -- which also produces uranium -- took control of Australia's ASM and is planning to build a new site in the United States, which will handle separation.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

It isn’t just the western United States; the same is true in much of the rest of the world.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

“How can he—she wouldn’t even be back in the United States yet.”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse