Centennial State
- proper noun
- /sɛnˈtɛn.i.əl steɪt/
- US
:
Estado Centenario
- As you travel through the mountains, remember that you are in Colorado, known as the Centennial State.
Examples
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Variety is also a great word to describe nursing practice in the Centennial State.
Blog text (28) -
Many outdoor enthusiasts flock to the Centennial State every year to enjoy its stunning natural scenery.
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Adopted during the 1970s, the nickname Centennial State celebrates Colorado's admission to the Union in 1876.
Synonyms
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A western United States state that has mountains and many outdoor activities
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A state in the western United States with the Rocky Mountains
A US state in the Rocky Mountains
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase transparently combines 'centennial' (hundredth anniversary) and 'state' (political entity), so learners can infer it denotes a state associated with a centennial. However, the fixed nickname’s specific referent (Colorado and the historical admission in 1876) requires cultural/historical knowledge, so full meaning (which exact state) is not predictable from the parts alone.
Etymology
Centennial State comes from Colorado joining the United States in 1876, exactly 100 years after 1776. The word centennial means '100 years' and state means a U.S. state, so the name reminds people that Colorado became a state in that 100th year.