alaska: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral to formal; primarily a proper noun used in geographical, political, and cultural contexts.
Quick answer
What does “alaska” mean?
The largest and most northwestern state of the United States, separated from the contiguous 48 states by Canada.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The largest and most northwestern state of the United States, separated from the contiguous 48 states by Canada.
Often used metonymically to refer to the state's characteristics: extreme cold, vast wilderness, natural resources (e.g., oil, salmon), or a remote, frontier-like location.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a geographical reference with no major lexical differences. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
For both: connotations of extreme cold, wilderness, and remoteness. In American English, it carries additional domestic political and economic connotations (e.g., statehood, oil industry).
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to domestic context.
Grammar
How to Use “alaska” in a Sentence
[PREP] in/near/to Alaska[VERB] travel to/explore/leave AlaskaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alaska” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- (Extremely rare/creative use) They decided to 'Alaska' their trip, meaning to make it more rugged and adventurous.
adjective
British English
- We studied the Alaska Purchase of 1867.
- She loves the Alaska landscape.
American English
- He works on the Alaska pipeline.
- We bought some Alaska king crab.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referring to the energy sector (e.g., 'Alaska North Slope oil reserves'), tourism, or commercial fishing.
Academic
In geography, environmental studies, political science (re: statehood, indigenous rights), and history (e.g., the Alaska Purchase).
Everyday
Discussing travel, weather, or location (e.g., 'My cousin moved to Alaska').
Technical
In climatology, geology, or aviation (due to challenging flight conditions).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “alaska”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alaska”
- Misspelling as 'Alaska' (missing 's') or 'Alasksa'. Using 'Alaskan' as the noun for the state (correct: 'Alaska'; 'Alaskan' is a demonym/adjective).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'Alaska' is almost exclusively a proper noun. The related adjective and demonym is 'Alaskan'.
The primary difference is in the vowel of the second syllable. British English uses /ɑː/ (the PALM vowel), while American English uses /æ/ (the TRAP vowel).
'Alaska Native' is a strong, fixed collocation referring to the indigenous peoples of the region.
It is a direct loanword ('Аляска'), so pronunciation and spelling are very similar. The main focus should be on its modern context as a U.S. state.
The largest and most northwestern state of the United States, separated from the contiguous 48 states by Canada.
Alaska is usually neutral to formal; primarily a proper noun used in geographical, political, and cultural contexts. in register.
Alaska: in British English it is pronounced /əˈlaskə/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈlæskə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Alaska or bust (expressing determination to reach Alaska)”
- “colder than a well-digger's knee in Alaska (hyperbolic simile for extreme cold)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large ASK sign (A-las-ka) in the middle of a frozen wilderness, reminding you it's the state you ASK about for its size and cold.
Conceptual Metaphor
Alaska is a FRONTIER (symbolizing untamed nature, challenge, and opportunity).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common conceptual metaphor for Alaska?