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Glite Dictionary
North Star State

North Star State

4.5
A nickname for the U.S. state of Minnesota
  • proper noun
translation icon : Estado de la Estrella del Norte
  • Minnesota is often called the North Star State because of its location in the northern U.S.

Examples

  • The North Star State is known for its thousands of lakes and cold winters.

  • Minnesota is often called the North Star State.

  • She moved from the North Star State to pursue a job in New York.

  • Did you know that North Star State refers to Minnesota?

  • Minnesota is often called the North Star State due to its location in the northern part of the U.S.

  • The North Star State is famous for its thousands of lakes and beautiful parks.

  • Many tourists visit the North Star State to experience its unique culture and winter sports.

Synonyms

Minnesota
vsNorth Star State
400 1.0

A state in the northern United States with many lakes and cold winters

is an informal name used for that state rather than the official name
Gopher State
vsNorth Star State
  • Informal
7.9

A nickname for the state of Minnesota in the United States

has identical meaning but is a different nickname for that state

Surface Forms

North Star State main

Morphology

north + star + state

The phrase is directly interpretable from its parts—'North' + 'Star' + 'State' suggests a state associated with the North Star, so a learner could infer it is a nickname for a state. However, linking that nickname to the specific referent (Minnesota) and recognising it as an established, conventional epithet requires cultural knowledge beyond just knowing the words, so it is not fully transparent.

Etymology

North Star State comes from Minnesota's old motto 'L'Étoile du Nord', which means 'The Star of the North', and from the bright North Star that travelers used as a guide. Because Minnesota is far in the north of the United States, this idea of a guiding star fit the place and the name stuck.