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Glite Dictionary
Sooner State

Sooner State

1 4.8
A nickname for the US state of Oklahoma
  • proper noun
  • /ˈsuːnər steɪt/
translation icon : Estado Sooner
  • Oklahoma is often referred to as the Sooner State because of its history during the land rush.

Examples

  • It is estimated that the group will touch over 25,000 voters before we load back on the bus on Thursday evening at 8 PM for a red-eye trip back to the Sooner State.

    Blog text (32)

  • In school, we learned that the Sooner State is home to diverse landscapes and rich culture.

  • You remember our lost friend down in the lower east quadrant of your beloved Sooner State?

    Fiction book (1997)

  • While not mentioned in HJR 1056, State Question 755 also forbids consideration of tribal law, which must be a big deal in the Sooner State.

    Blog text (17)

  • Likewise, by refusing to revisit the issue of health care exchanges, Governor Fallin has violated one of her principal campaign promises: to do everything in her power to fight federal government interference in the Sooner State.

    Blog text (8)

  • Many residents proudly display the nickname Sooner State on their vehicles.

Synonyms

Oklahoma
vsSooner State
684 1.0

A state in the south central United States known for different landscapes and Native American history

is the nickname used for that south central state
Hawkeye State
vsSooner State
  • US
1 7.8

A nickname for the state of Iowa in the United States

refers to the south central state rather than that central Midwestern one
Hoosier State
vsSooner State
1 6.2

A common name for the United States state of Indiana whose capital is Indianapolis

refers to the south central state rather than that Midwestern one
Sunflower State
vsSooner State
2.9

A nickname for the state of Kansas because many sunflowers grow there

refers to the south central state rather than that sunflower-rich Midwest one
Cornhusker State
vsSooner State
  • US
6.0

A nickname for Nebraska, the US state known for corn farming

refers to the south central state rather than that Great Plains one
Lone-Star State
vsSooner State
3.4

A nickname for Texas, a large state in the United States in the south

refers to the south central state rather than that large southwestern one

Surface Forms

Sooner State main

Morphology

Sooner + state

The phrase is directly compositional: 'Sooner' (a resident or native of Oklahoma) combined with 'state' (a political region) yields 'the state associated with Sooners,' i.e. Oklahoma. This demonym+state nickname follows a transparent naming pattern and would be understandable to a learner who already knows the constituent word 'Sooner.'

Etymology

Sooner State comes from people called Sooners who entered government land before the official start of the 1889 land rush to claim plots. They went in 'sooner' than the rules allowed, so the state became known as the 'Sooner State'.