Wolverine State

4.8

A US state in the Great Lakes region with capital Lansing

proper noun
/ˈwʊlvəˌriːn steɪt/

: Estado de los Glotones

The Wolverine State is famous for its beautiful lakes and auto industry.

Examples

She grew up in the Wolverine State and still supports local Michigan teams.
Many tourists visit the Wolverine State for its vibrant autumn colors.
The Wolverine State has beautiful fall colors!
Many people love visiting the Wolverine State during the summer.
Many tourists visit the Wolverine State for its vibrant autumn colors.
She grew up in the Wolverine State and still supports local Michigan teams.
The Wolverine State is famous for its beautiful lakes and auto industry.

Synonyms

Michigan

vsWolverine State

765 1.0

A state in the north-central United States by the Great Lakes with capital Lansing

is a nickname used instead of the official name

vsWolverine State

23 1.5

A US state in the Great Lakes region with capital Lansing

is a spoken nickname not a postal abbreviation

Great Lakes State

vsWolverine State

3.5

A nickname for the U.S. state of Michigan that borders the Great Lakes

is a nickname that instead highlights an animal rather than region

Surface Forms

Wolverine State main

Morphology

Wolverine + state

The meaning 'a nickname for Michigan' is directly derivable from combining 'Wolverine' (given here as an informal term for a Michigan resident) with 'state' (a regional political entity): it denotes the state associated with 'Wolverines' (Michigan). The noun+state nickname pattern is compositional and common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's referent.

Etymology

Wolverine State may come from the fierce animal wolverine and the idea of a state of tough people. One popular story says people from Ohio called Michigan settlers 'wolverines' after a small border fight, and the name stuck, so today Wolverine State means 'the state of Michigan'.