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Glite Dictionary
United States

United States

∞ 1.0
A country in North America made up of 50 states often called the US
  • proper noun
  • /juːˈnaɪtɪd steɪts/
translation icon : Estados Unidos
  • I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
  • immigrate to the United States
  • residency in the United States
  • the United States' allies

Do you have a sense that the United States has a good plan?

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Examples

  • Jews have been here in the United States from early on.

  • The single greatest resource the United States now needs is not more troops but more time.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Do you have a sense that the United States has a good plan?

    Lex Fridman

  • It's in doubt in the United States right now.

  • Today, the citizens of the United States needed that protection.

    Thunderbolts* (2025)

  • Her parents became citizens of the United States.

    Hitler's Children (1943)

  • I feel that the United States has tremendous wealth.

  • Currently, 8 out of 10 older adults in the United States have at least 1 chronic condition.

    Academic text (2011)

  • We in the United States love an underdog.

  • Is this your first trip to the United States?

Synonyms

America
vsUnited States
∞ 1.0

A country in North America made of fifty states including Alaska and Hawaii

is a descriptive two-word name used in more formal contexts
US
vsUnited States
∞ 1.0

A country in North America made of fifty states including Alaska and Hawaii

is spelled out as the non-abbreviated two-word name in normal text
USA
vsUnited States
564 1.0

A country in North America made of fifty states

is the written two-word name rather than an alphabetic abbreviation
United States of America
vsUnited States
191 1.0

A country in North America made of 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii

is the shorter, commonly used country name rather than the full formal name
the States
vsUnited States
  • Informal
77 5.8

A casual name for the United States used by people from other countries

is the standard descriptive name used within general and formal contexts
merica
vsUnited States
  • Slang
1 9.7

A joking name for the United States often used with flags and pickup trucks

is the normal country name used without joking or exaggerated tone
U.S.A.
vsUnited States
1.0

A country in North America made of 50 states

is the common short name without punctuation or abbreviation
U.S.
vsUnited States
1.0

A country in North America made of fifty states, including Alaska and Hawaii

is the non-abbreviated short name written without punctuation or periods

Surface Forms

United States main
U.S. main
USA main

Morphology

united + state

The meaning 'a country made up of states' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'united' (joined together) with 'states' (political entities). This compositional pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words will readily infer the country sense.

Etymology

United States comes from when separate colonies chose to join as one country. The word United means 'joined together' and States means 'separate regions', so the name shows a country made of many states.