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 astronauts did the first slingshot around the Moon in more than 50 years and traveled deeper into space than any humans before -- culminating in a smooth splashdown Friday off the coast of California.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

When California passed its landmark food safety law in 2023, it did more than ban a handful of controversial additives — it stepped into a role the federal government had long failed to fill.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

From the Rocky Mountains west to California and into Western Canada, record numbers of resorts closed early this season.

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

The massive festival in the California desert draws more than 100,000 people daily over two weekends, according to police from the city of Indio.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

I had purchased an old sailboat, which I wanted to use to explore the Pacific, and I kept this boat in Ventura, California.

From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen