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Definition of illinois

illinois

/ˌɪl.ɪˈnɔɪ/
Il · li · nois
Adjective:Illinoian
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illinois Lexical Profile

• noun

1

American A state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the west and Lake Michigan to the northeast, known for its extensive agriculture, major industrial sectors, and its most populous city, Chicago.

2

American A confederation of Algonquian-speaking Native American tribes that historically inhabited the upper Mississippi River valley and the Great Lakes region.

Example

"Early French explorers and missionaries established extensive trade networks and alliances with the Illinois during the seventeenth century."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for illinois

• Rhymes for illinois

• Nearby Words

illicitness
illilouette
illimani
illinois
illinois river
illiteracy
illiterate

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the French adaptation of the Algonquian (specifically Miami-Illinois) word 'ilinwe' or 'irenweewa', meaning 'he speaks the regular way'. It historically referred to the Illinois Confederation of Native American tribes.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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