West Virginia

American  

noun

1. a state in the eastern United States. 24,181 sq. mi. (62,629 sq. km). Charleston. WV (for use with zip code), W.Va.

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West Virginia British  

noun

1. Abbreviation: W Va.   W. Va..   WV.  a state of the eastern US: part of Virginia until the outbreak of the American Civil War (1861); consists chiefly of the Allegheny Plateau; bounded on the west by the Ohio River; coal-mining. Capital: Charleston. Pop: 1 810 354 (2003 est). Area: 62 341 sq km (24 070 sq miles)

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West Virginia Cultural  

1. State in the southeastern United States bordered by Pennsylvania and Maryland to the north, Virginia to the east and south, and Kentucky and Ohio to the west. Its capital and largest city is Charleston.

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Ranks first in bituminous coal production, with about twenty percent of the nation's total.

Separated from Virginia after Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861; it was granted statehood in 1863, during the Civil War.

Other Word Forms

• West Virginian
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

West Virginia

Earlier this year, a handful of West Virginia legislators pushed to add some “bumpers” to the program to safeguard public funds.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

“It’s thicker than two Sears catalogs. Rules that govern home school and private school in West Virginia — those will fit on an index card.”

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia had also reported cases linked to the lettuce.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Mesidor, a linebacker who played collegiately at West Virginia and Miami, was selected 22nd overall.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

“It’s got to be the greatest thing,” he said, “to work in the West Virginia capitol every day.”

From "Missing May" by Cynthia Rylant