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.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife spearheaded a complex mission to rescue trout threatened by the Palisades fire that sparked in January 2025.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

California is home to 23 million registered voters, far more than any other state.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

In the last 10 years, Edison’s rates increased by 101%, according to an April report by the public advocates office at the California Public Utilities Commission.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

And a majority of California voters — nearly 90% in last year’s special election — use them.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

Esther Anderson, one of the missionaries who ran the school, was from California.

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola