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Definition of cali

cali

/ˈkɑːli/
Ca · li
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cali Lexical Profile

• noun

1

American A popular colloquial abbreviation or nickname for the US state of California.

2

A major city in western Colombia, located in the Valle del Cauca department, historically renowned for its sugar industry, vibrant culture, and status as the salsa music capital of the world.

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cali

Word Nuance & Usage

While widely used in global pop culture and music as a nickname for California, 'Cali' is famously avoided by native Californians, who typically prefer regional terms like 'NorCal', 'SoCal', or the full state name.

• Rhymes for cali

• Nearby Words

calf
calfskin
calgary
cali
caliber
calibered
calibrachoa

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cali. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cali
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