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 tank in southern California contains an estimated 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly volatile and flammable substance used in the production of plastic.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

An astonishing number of them opened here, in Southern California, although you would be hard pressed to find many nowadays.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

A study earlier this year by the University of Southern California Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that only nine of the 100 biggest US movies last year were directed by women.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

The largest markets for utility-scale energy storage are California, Arizona and Texas, which also are among the leading states in generation of renewable energy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Russell Targ, Bobby’s brother-in-law, was particularly irritated since he’d flown from California to attend the funeral, only to find that he’d missed it by hours.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady