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

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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

In the United States, golden statuary is rare and usually metaphoric — the Oregon Pioneer, the Golden Driller, the Spirit of Communication.

From Los Angeles Times

But more efficient vehicles in the United States combined with the country's domestic energy production means the "US is now energy sufficient overall," said Patrick Anderson, CEO of the research group.

From Barron's

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States," the amendment states.

From Barron's

In 1961, the civil rights movement was intensifying across the United States as Dwight was serving as a pilot in the US Air Force.

From Barron's

But Goodell pointed out that the rule "is not a hiring mandate," and that it has been adopted in industries "far beyond football, far beyond the United States" to hire "bring in better talent."

From Barron's