america: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very highFormal, informal, academic, geopolitical
Quick answer
What does “america” mean?
The contiguous landmass of North and South America, also the common name for the United States of America.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The contiguous landmass of North and South America, also the common name for the United States of America.
Often used as a metonym for the United States, its culture, government, or people; can also refer broadly to the 'New World' or Western Hemisphere.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Brits are more likely to specify 'the United States' or 'the US' to avoid ambiguity; Americans use 'America' far more frequently as a self-reference for their country. The phrase 'North/South America' is used by both for the continents.
Connotations
In American usage, it carries strong patriotic connotations. In British and other international usage, it can have neutral, positive, or critical connotations depending on context (e.g., 'American foreign policy').
Frequency
Far more frequent in American English as a national identifier.
Grammar
How to Use “america” in a Sentence
in Americaacross Americafrom Americato Americathroughout AmericaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “america” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a standard verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as a standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- The American ambassador attended the meeting.
- She has an American-style fridge.
American English
- We're celebrating American independence.
- He drives an American-made truck.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"We are expanding our operations into North America."
Academic
"The colonization of the Americas had profound ecological consequences."
Everyday
"She's flying back to America next week."
Technical
"The species is endemic to the temperate zones of America."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “america”
- Using 'America' to refer to the USA in formal international or diplomatic writing where clarity is paramount.
- Assuming a speaker from Canada or Brazil uses 'America' to mean the USA.
- Capitalizing 'american' as an adjective when it's not at the start of a sentence.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not incorrect; it is extremely common and standard in American English and international usage. However, for precision, especially in contexts involving other American nations, 'the United States' or 'the US' is preferred.
The demonym derives from the country's full name, the United States of America. There is no single-word alternative (like 'United Statesian'), so 'American' became standard. This usage often causes frustration among others in North and South America.
'The Americas' explicitly refers to the two continents (North and South America) and is the unambiguous term. 'America' alone is ambiguous and most often refers to the USA.
Yes, when it is a proper adjective derived from the proper noun 'America' (e.g., American culture, American flag). Do not capitalize it in phrases like 'american football' where it is not directly derived from the country name (though 'American football' is also accepted).
The contiguous landmass of North and South America, also the common name for the United States of America.
America is usually formal, informal, academic, geopolitical in register.
America: in British English it is pronounced /əˈmɛrɪkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈmɛrɪkə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “American dream”
- “as American as apple pie”
- “only in America”
- “from sea to shining sea”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Amerigo Vespucci, the explorer whose name was used for the CONTINENT. The COUNTRY took the continent's name.
Conceptual Metaphor
America as a person (e.g., 'America speaks', 'America decides'), America as a melting pot, America as a young nation, America as a land of opportunity.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'America' LEAST likely to refer specifically to the United States?