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.

Fundamentally, the city remains in the grips of a housing crisis affecting all of California.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

Their engine was northbound on State Street with its emergency lights and siren activated, the California Highway Patrol said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

The bill has already passed the California State Assembly and is now being considered by the State Senate.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Martha Bailey, a professor of economics and director of the California Center for Population Research at the University of California, Los Angeles, thinks the national conversation gets it all wrong.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

After their three-week hiatus, the young players borrowed an old automobile from the editor of the California Chess Reporter, Guthrie McClain.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady