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Definition of louisville

louisville

/ˈluː.i.vɪl/
Lou · is · ville
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louisville Lexical Profile

• noun

1

American The most populous city in the state of Kentucky, located in the southeastern United States along the Ohio River, and internationally renowned as the home of the Kentucky Derby.

Example

"Every May, thousands of spectators travel to Louisville to watch the historic horse races at Churchill Downs."

Word Nuance & Usage

The name acts as a famous regional shibboleth; locals typically pronounce it as 'LOO-uh-vul' or 'LUH-vul', whereas non-locals often use the phonetic 'LOO-ee-vil'.

• Nearby Words

lotus root
loudspeaker
louis
louisville
lounge
louse
louver

Word Origin & Etymology

Founded in 1778 by George Rogers Clark, the settlement was named in honor of King Louis XVI of France, in gratitude for French military assistance during the American Revolutionary War.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Louisville. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/louisville
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