What does "california" mean?
The most populous state of the United States. Capital: Sacramento. Largest city: Los Angeles.
California
/ˌkæ.lɪˈfɔː.ni.ə/ name
name ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The most populous state of the United States. Capital: Sacramento. Largest city: Los Angeles.
- Grammar: california is listed as name.
- Nearest alternatives: cal, cali, california culture, california lifestyle.
- Useful contrasts: federal.
- Usage evidence: At last, we reached California.
How to use "california"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "california" 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 "california" 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 "california" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "california" 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 "california" 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 "cal" 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 "california", 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 The most populous state of the United States. Capital: Sacramento. Largest city: Los Angeles. countable, uncountable
"But my heart cried out for you, California / Oh, California, I'm coming home"
- 2 A region on the west coast of North America comprising the US state of California and the Baja California peninsula in Mexico; historically also including other areas in Alta California and Baja California. countable, historical, uncountable
- 3 Several places in the United States:; A city in Campbell County, Kentucky. countable, uncountable
- 4 Several places in the United States:; A neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. countable, uncountable
- 5 Several places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in the town of Stockholm, Aroostook County, Maine. countable, uncountable
Show 22 more definitions
- 6 Several places in the United States:; A census-designated place in St. Mary's County, Maryland. countable, uncountable
- 7 Several places in the United States:; A township in Branch County, Michigan. countable, uncountable
- 8 Several places in the United States:; A city, the county seat of Moniteau County, Missouri. countable, uncountable
- 9 Several places in the United States:; A neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. countable, uncountable
- 10 Several places in the United States:; A borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania. countable, uncountable
- 11 Several places in the United States:; A ghost town in Wirt County, West Virginia. countable, uncountable
- 12 Several places in England:; A suburban village and park in Finchampstead parish, Wokingham borough, Berkshire (OS grid ref SU7964). countable, uncountable
- 13 Several places in England:; A neighbourhood of Birmingham, West Midlands (OS grid ref SP0182). countable, uncountable
- 14 Several places in England:; An area of Derby, Derbyshire. countable, uncountable
- 15 Several places in England:; A district of Ipswich, Suffolk. countable, uncountable
- 16 Several places in England:; A southern suburb of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire (OS grid ref SP8113). countable, uncountable
- 17 Several places in England:; An outer suburb of Dunstable, Bedfordshire (OS grid ref TL0120). countable, uncountable
- 18 Several places in England:; A seaside resort in Ormesby St Margaret with Scratby civil parish, Great Yarmouth borough, Norfolk (OS grid ref TG5115). countable, uncountable
- 19 A village in Falkirk council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NS9076). countable, uncountable
- 20 A community in Ontario, Canada. countable, uncountable
- 21 A town in Santander department, Colombia. countable, uncountable
- 22 A town in Usulután department, El Salvador. countable, uncountable
- 23 A neighborhood of Casablanca, Morocco. countable, uncountable
- 24 A barangay of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Philippines. countable, uncountable
- 25 A barangay of Ubay, Bohol, Philippines. countable, uncountable
- 26 A town in Trinidad and Tobago. countable, uncountable
- 27 University of California, Berkeley. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"At last, we reached California."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "california"?
Common synonyms include: cal, cali, california culture, california lifestyle, californian, californian ecological adjective.
How do you use "california" in a sentence?
At last, we reached California.
How do you pronounce "california"?
Pronounced /ˌkæ.lɪˈfɔː.ni.ə/.
Etymology
Probably Spanish after California, a Utopian island of the Amazons described in Las sergas de Esplandián, a 16th-century Spanish novel. The name comes from the fictional island's Muslim-allied queen, Calafia, whose name may be a play on Arabic خَلِيفَة (ḵalīfa, “caliph”). For more information see: Etymology of California.