California

[kal-uh-fawrn-yuh, -fawr-nee-uh] / ˌkæl əˈfɔrn yə, -ˈfɔr ni ə /

NOUN

u.s. state

Synonyms

WEAK

Bear Flag State Cal El Dorado Gold Coast Gold Rush State Golden Bear State Golden Poppy State Golden State La La Land Sunkist State

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What questions do you have about the California primaries–the candidates, the process and what the results will mean for the general election in November?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

The WOW-funded campaign directly discloses that they oppose the billboard blight ballot initiative in financial filings with the California secretary of state.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

For their part, multiple California officials said — again — that the state’s long counting time doesn’t mean anything is wrong.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

Elections can take days, and sometimes weeks, to be called in California because most voters cast their ballots by mail.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

At Edwards Air Force Base in California, Major Richard Heyser spent the afternoon of October 13 trying to get some sleep.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin