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.

All northbound lanes of the 101 freeway approaching downtown Los Angeles were closed off by the California Highway Patrol in Boyle Heights on Thursday morning because of police activity in the area.

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

As a scientist for the USGS, he was usually based in California, but he had been attending a conference in Seattle when the earthquakes began.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone