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.

After reading a Times story about Georg Kochi, a retiree who swapped his Koreatown lawn with plants suited for California, Lee was inspired by Kochi’s wild, wabi-sabi-style garden, which embraces the art of imperfect beauty.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Nebraska, Florida, New York and California, among other states, exempt a primary residence from assets counted for Medicaid eligibility under certain circumstances.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

Hilton has never held elected office before, but has said that if he wins, he will not mirror other California politicians.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Law enforcement officials also point out that any type of modification to e-bikes might not just be dangerous, but can also transform the e-bike into a motorcycle or moped under California law.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

He didn’t talk to anyone about what became his new obsession; he just sat alone in his office, in San Jose, California, and read books and articles and financial filings.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis