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Definition of united states
united states
united states Lexical Profile
CEFR
A1
Grade
1
Tier
1
Usage
Top 1k
• noun
1
A federal republic primarily located in North America, comprising fifty states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions.
Example
"The United States stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, encompassing diverse climates and landscapes."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for united statesWord Nuance & Usage
Despite its plural form, 'the United States' functions grammatically as a singular proper noun and takes a singular verb (e.g., 'The United States is a large country').
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The phrase first officially appeared in the Declaration of Independence in 1776 as 'the thirteen united States of America', describing the union of former British colonies.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of United states. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/united states