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.

In 2024, Alatorre earned nearly $181,000 in pay and overtime plus benefits and pension earnings that cost the city a total of $271,000, according to Transparent California, a public records database.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

Authorities in New York, New Jersey, California and in the EU began looking at complaints about ticketing strategies.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

It also required California to make its tax uniform.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Polymarket has an advantage there: U.S. states with the highest Hispanic populations, namely Texas and California, have yet to legalize traditional sports betting.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

I don’t want to feel this confusion anymore, one piece of me in California, and another piece of me left behind on the other side of the country.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy