arlington: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Geographical, Historical
Quick answer
What does “arlington” mean?
A proper noun referring to a place name, most commonly a county in Virginia, USA, or a town/city in various English-speaking countries.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun referring to a place name, most commonly a county in Virginia, USA, or a town/city in various English-speaking countries.
Often used metonymically to refer to institutions or entities located in Arlington, such as Arlington National Cemetery or the Pentagon (located in Arlington County).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'Arlington' is primarily recognized as the name of several small towns/villages (e.g., in Devon, East Sussex). In American English, it is overwhelmingly associated with Arlington County, Virginia, and Arlington National Cemetery.
Connotations
UK: Neutral, a local place name. US: Strong connotations of military service, national memory, and government (due to the cemetery and the Pentagon).
Frequency
Far more frequent in American English due to the prominence of Arlington, VA, in national discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “arlington” in a Sentence
[Preposition] + ArlingtonArlington + [Noun Modifier]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “arlington” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- the Arlington parish council
American English
- the Arlington-based contractor
- an Arlington address
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in real estate or location-based services (e.g., 'Our new office is in Arlington').
Academic
Used in history, political science, or geography contexts discussing US institutions or urban development.
Everyday
Used when discussing travel, news about the US military, or American history.
Technical
Used in cartography, urban planning, or military logistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “arlington”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “arlington”
- Using lowercase ('arlington').
- Assuming it has a meaning beyond a place name.
- Pronouncing the 'r' in the British variant.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In its most famous instance, it is Arlington County, Virginia, which is a county but has no incorporated cities within it, functioning similarly to a city.
It is the United States' premier military cemetery, serving as the final resting place for many American war heroes, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Yes, there are towns and villages named Arlington in several US states (e.g., Texas, Massachusetts) and in the United Kingdom.
In American English, the 'r' is fully pronounced (/ˈɑːr.lɪŋ.tən/). In British English, the 'r' is not pronounced after the 'a', making it sound like 'Ah-ling-ton' (/ˈɑː.lɪŋ.tən/).
A proper noun referring to a place name, most commonly a county in Virginia, USA, or a town/city in various English-speaking countries.
Arlington is usually formal, geographical, historical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ARLINGTON' contains 'ARMY' and 'TON' (a lot). A lot of army history is in Arlington.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PLACE STANDS FOR THE INSTITUTIONS WITHIN IT (e.g., 'Arlington' for US military honor).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Arlington' most strongly associated with in American cultural context?