arlington heights: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low (Proper Noun). Very common in local/regional contexts of Illinois and Chicago metropolitan area, but low frequency in general international English.
UK/ˌɑː.lɪŋ.tən ˈhaɪts/US/ˌɑːr.lɪŋ.tən ˈhaɪts/

Neutral. Used in all registers when referring to the location, from informal conversation to formal news reporting.

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Quick answer

What does “arlington heights” mean?

A proper noun referring to a specific suburban village in the US state of Illinois, located northwest of Chicago.

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Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A proper noun referring to a specific suburban village in the US state of Illinois, located northwest of Chicago.

As a toponym, it refers solely to this specific place. It can be used metonymically to refer to its local government, community, or institutions (e.g., 'a decision from Arlington Heights'). There is no general or extended lexical meaning beyond the place name.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Usage is almost exclusively American, as it refers to a US location. A British speaker would only encounter it in specific contexts (e.g., news about US affairs, historical references).

Connotations

For Americans, it connotes a specific Chicago suburb. For others, it is a largely neutral place name without specific connotations unless context is provided (e.g., known for its racetrack, a specific court case).

Frequency

Extremely rare in British English except in highly specialized contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “arlington heights” in a Sentence

[Subject] is/located in Arlington Heights.[Event] took place in Arlington Heights.The [entity] of Arlington Heights [verb]...

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
village of Arlington HeightsArlington Heights, IllinoisArlington Heights mayorArlington Heights police
medium
live in Arlington Heightsborn in Arlington HeightsArlington Heights communityArlington Heights area
weak
near Arlington Heightsroad to Arlington Heightsvisit Arlington Heightshistory of Arlington Heights

Examples

Examples of “arlington heights” in a Sentence

adjective

American English

  • Arlington Heights-based company
  • Arlington Heights residents

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

e.g., 'The company is headquartered in Arlington Heights.'

Academic

e.g., 'The 1977 Supreme Court case Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing Corp. established key tests for discriminatory intent.'

Everyday

e.g., 'We're going to the mall in Arlington Heights this weekend.'

Technical

e.g., 'The Arlington Heights weather station recorded 12 inches of snowfall.'

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “arlington heights”

Neutral

the villagethe suburbthe municipality (in context)

Weak

AH (informal abbreviation)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “arlington heights”

  • Misspelling as 'Arlington Hights' (missing 'e').
  • Using lower case ('arlington heights').
  • Treating it as a common noun with a descriptive meaning.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It is officially incorporated as a village, a specific type of municipal government common in Illinois, though it is often referred to colloquially as a suburb or town.

It is regionally famous for the now-closed Arlington International Racecourse (horse racing) and nationally significant for the 1977 Supreme Court case 'Village of Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing Development Corp.'

It is pronounced /haɪts/, rhyming with 'lights' or 'nights'. The 'gh' is silent.

Yes, in a limited, attributive way to describe something originating from or related to that place (e.g., 'Arlington Heights politics', 'an Arlington Heights address'). It is not a general descriptive adjective.

A proper noun referring to a specific suburban village in the US state of Illinois, located northwest of Chicago.

Arlington heights is usually neutral. used in all registers when referring to the location, from informal conversation to formal news reporting. in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'Arlington' as a common US place name (like the cemetery) and 'Heights' suggesting it's on elevated land. Together, they name a specific 'high' suburb.

Conceptual Metaphor

PLACE AS CONTAINER (for events, people, institutions); PLACE AS INSTITUTION (via metonymy).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The famous Arlington International Racecourse was located in , Illinois.
Multiple Choice

What is Arlington Heights primarily?