united states
B1Formal to neutral; capitalized in all contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A federal republic in North America composed of 50 states and a federal district.
The territory, population, and government of the nation; also used to refer to the collective identity or policies of the country.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost always used with the definite article 'the' (e.g., 'the United States'). The singular form 'United State' is never used. Can be used adjectivally ('United States policy') or nominally ('the President of the United States').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British usage, 'the States' or 'America' are more common in informal speech. In American usage, 'the United States', 'the U.S.', 'America', or informally 'the States' are used.
Connotations
Formal official term in both varieties, though slightly more formal in UK English where alternatives are preferred in casual contexts.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English as it is the official self-designation. In UK English, 'America' is more frequent in everyday conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the + United States + of + Americain + the + United Statesof + the + United StatesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “From sea to shining sea (referring to the US)”
- “The American Dream”
- “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the US market, regulations, or corporate entities (e.g., 'Our United States subsidiary reported strong growth.').
Academic
Used in historical, political, or geographical contexts (e.g., 'The post-war development of the United States was...').
Everyday
Refers to the country as a destination, origin, or topic of news (e.g., 'My cousin lives in the United States.').
Technical
In legal or diplomatic documents, the full formal name 'the United States of America' is often used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The colonies united to form a new nation.
American English
- The states united under a common constitution.
adjective
British English
- She holds a United States passport.
- It's a United States-based corporation.
American English
- He follows United States foreign policy closely.
- This is a United States military operation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The United States is a big country.
- New York is in the United States.
- They speak English in the United States.
- The President lives and works in the United States.
- I would like to visit the United States one day.
- The United States has fifty states.
- The foreign policy of the United States often influences global markets.
- After graduating, she secured a job based in the United States.
- The United States Constitution was ratified in the 18th century.
- The geopolitical stance of the United States has evolved considerably since the Cold War.
- Critics argue that the United States' approach to climate policy has been inconsistent.
- The treaty required ratification by the government of the United States.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
UNITED = joined together; STATES = individual regions. It's a country formed by states that united.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATION IS A PERSON (e.g., 'The United States believes...'), NATION IS A CONTAINER (e.g., 'in the United States').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'Соединённые Штаты' without the definite article 'the' in English. Always use 'the United States'.
- Avoid using 'America' interchangeably in very formal written contexts where precision is required.
- Note the plural verb when referring to the government as a collective entity (e.g., 'The United States are...' is archaic; modern use is singular 'The United States is...').
Common Mistakes
- Writing 'United State' (singular).
- Omitting 'the' ('He moved to United States').
- Using plural verb for the country as a single entity (e.g., 'The United States are big' should be 'The United States is big').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct usage?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern English, 'the United States' is treated as a singular entity, so 'the United States is...' is correct.
In informal contexts, yes. However, in precise geographical or political writing, 'the United States (of America)' is preferred, as 'America' can refer to the continents.
Because it is a plural noun phrase ('United States') derived from a descriptor + common noun, similar to 'the Netherlands' or 'the Philippines'.
They are all abbreviations. 'U.S.' is common in general writing, 'USA' is often used as a noun, and 'U.S.A.' is the traditional abbreviation, frequently seen in proper names (e.g., 'USA Today').