United States

American  

[yoo-nahy-tid stayts] / 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

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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. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

United States

Although chlorpyrifos use has declined in the United States, many people were exposed before restrictions were introduced, and related agricultural chemicals remain widely used.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

The United States on Saturday urged against using food trade as a tool for "economic or political coercion," while acknowledging the difficulty of reaching a G20 consensus as foreign ministers wrapped talks.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

However the United States, who were obliterated 69-7 in the opening match of England's march to the Rugby World Cup last year, stuck in the contest far longer than they did that day in Sunderland.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

“If they’re going to have a car that has a road map to autonomy, and it retails for less than the average new car in the United States, that’s a pretty positive formula.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Despite the faith’s promises of worldwide harmony, the year 1859 found the United States anything but peaceful.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

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