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.

Beginning in the late 19th century, California farmers regularly used their own equipment to dredge the delta channels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

As gas prices soared in California last month, Irvine resident Marc Tan realized his Mercedes SUV was getting too expensive to refuel.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Precisely the opposite is true: The bigger threat to the state’s salmon population is the presence of striped and largemouth bass, aggressive fish species that were introduced to California in the late 19th century.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

And in Nebraska, Independent Dan Osborn, who is challenging incumbent Republican Pete Ricketts, took in $80,000 more from disclosed California donors than from Nebraskans.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

I wanted to ask her questions about the beaches and water in Florida, to see if she remembers anything, if it’s totally different than it is in California.

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