What does "arizona" mean?
A state in the southwestern United States, established 1912. Capital: Phoenix.
Arizona
/ˌæɹɪˈzoʊnə/ name
name ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A state in the southwestern United States, established 1912. Capital: Phoenix.
- Grammar: arizona is listed as name.
- Nearest alternatives: arizona state, az, southwestern state, state of arizona.
- Useful contrasts: nonstate.
- Usage evidence: Phoenix is the capital of Arizona.
How to use "arizona"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "arizona" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "arizona" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "arizona" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "arizona" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "arizona" is acting as name in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "arizona state" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "arizona", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Proper Noun
- 1 A state in the southwestern United States, established 1912. Capital: Phoenix.
"A 15-year-old orphan is being forced from the Arizona senior community where he lives with his grandparents after the homeowner’s association said it could face legal issues if he stayed."
- 2 Ellipsis of University of Arizona. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
"Videos on social media appear to show Arizona fans chanting “F**k the Mormons” after the 96-95 loss."
- 3 A territory of the southwest Confederate (1862–1865) and United States of America (1863–1912), with its capitals at Tucson, Prescott, and Phoenix. historical
- 4 A department of the northwest Second Mexican Empire (1863–1865), with its capital at Altar. historical
- 5 A unisex given name. rare
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 Arizona Beverage Company, which sells its products under the name AriZona.
- 7 Several places named for the state or territory.; Arizona City, a census-designated place in Pinal County, Arizona, United States.
- 8 Several places named for the state or territory.; An unincorporated community in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, United States.
- 9 Several places named for the state or territory.; An unincorporated community in Burt County, Nebraska, United States.
- 10 Several places named for the state or territory.; A locality in Manitoba, Canada.
- 11 Several places named for the state or territory.; A municipality of Atlántida department, Honduras.
- 12 Several places named for the state or territory.; A barangay of Midsayap, Cotabato, Philippines.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Phoenix is the capital of Arizona."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "arizona"?
Common synonyms include: arizona state, az, southwestern state, state of arizona, us state of arizona.
How do you use "arizona" in a sentence?
Phoenix is the capital of Arizona.
How do you pronounce "arizona"?
Pronounced /ˌæɹɪˈzoʊnə/.
Etymology
Uncertain. Possibly from O'odham alĭ ṣonak (literally “small spring”) (traditionally through the Spanish intermediary form Arizonac; compare modern Arizona), a name initially applied to an area around a silver-mining camp in Sonora. Alternatively, perhaps from Basque haritz ona (literally “good oak”), as the area had many Basque herders, and a descendant of them established the ranchería of Arizona (circa 1735) in Sonora. Suggestions of derivation from *arizuma, supposedly a Nahuatl word meaning “silver-bearing”, are considered implausible, and derivation from árida zona (literally “dry zone”) is considered a folk etymology.