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Glite Dictionary
Volunteer State

Volunteer State

5.8
A nickname for the state of Tennessee because its people often volunteer for military service
  • proper noun
  • /ˈvɑːlənˌtɪr steɪt/
  • US
translation icon : Estado Voluntario
  • Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State.

Examples

  • She moved to the Volunteer State to begin her studies at Vanderbilt University.

  • Many tourists visit the Volunteer State each year to explore its natural parks and historic sites.

  • The Volunteer State is famous for its country music and barbecue traditions.

  • Have you ever visited the Volunteer State?

  • Tennessee is often referred to as the Volunteer State because of its residents' history of military service.

  • The local pride in being from the Volunteer State is evident during military parades.

  • Many famous soldiers from history hailed from the Volunteer State, showcasing its legacy of bravery.

Synonyms

Tennessee
vsVolunteer State
508 1.0

A state in the southeastern United States with Nashville as its capital

is a nickname stressing residents' reputation for volunteering for military service
TN
vsVolunteer State
11 1.0

A short form for the state of Tennessee in the eastern United States with capital Nashville

is a nickname rather than an abbreviation, stressing residents' reputation for volunteering
Tenn.
vsVolunteer State
  • US
2.2

Short form of Tennessee, a state in the eastern United States with capital Nashville

is a nickname rather than an abbreviation, stressing residents' reputation for volunteering

Surface Forms

Volunteer State main

Morphology

volunteer + state

The compound is compositionally interpretable as a 'state of volunteers' because 'volunteer' + 'state' yields a clear literal concept; a B1 learner who knows both words would likely infer that it denotes a state associated with volunteering. However, the fixed referent (the nickname for Tennessee) and the historical/cultural basis are conventional and not predictable from the words alone, so full understanding requires extra knowledge.

Etymology

Volunteer State comes from Tennessee's history in early American wars. One popular story says many people from Tennessee volunteered to fight, so the state came to be called the 'Volunteer State' because its people were willing to serve.