What does "washington" mean?
A U.S. one-dollar bill, which features a portrait of George Washington.
Washington
/ˈwɑʃɪŋtən/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A U.S. one-dollar bill, which features a portrait of George Washington.
- Grammar: washington is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: art, authorities, capital city, capital-area.
- Useful contrasts: federal district, first name, foreign.
- Usage evidence: Which is the capital of the United States, Washington or New York?
How to use "washington"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "washington" 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 "washington" 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 "washington" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "washington" 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 "washington" is acting as name, noun, slang 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 "art" 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 "washington", 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
Noun
- 1 A U.S. one-dollar bill, which features a portrait of George Washington. US, slang
"He could open that footlocker once in awhile^([sic]) and look at actual cash, loads of bills, tens, twenties, eagles, Grants, Lincolns, Washingtons."
- 2 Synonym of agawan base (a team game) uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 A state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Capital: Olympia. Largest city: Seattle. countable, uncountable
"The Skills Center, which is located on Amazon’s corporate headquarters campus in Seattle, Washington, and opens to the public November 22, is the first of its kind for the company. It’s part of a larger commitment to train 29 million people globally in cloud computing by 2025 that AWS made last year."
- 2 Washington, D.C. (the capital city of the United States). countable, uncountable
"Taiwanese presidents, including Tsai, have a record of travelling through the U.S. en route to other countries, usually for a day or two, though the U.S. government has generally avoided meeting senior Taiwanese officials in Washington."
- 3 Washington, D.C. (the capital city of the United States).; District of Columbia (a district of the United States, coterminous with the city of Washington). countable, uncountable
- 4 An English habitational surname from Old English. countable, uncountable
- 5 An English habitational surname from Old English.; George Washington, the first president of the United States, and commanding general during its war of independence. countable, uncountable
Show 47 more definitions
- 6 The federal government or administrative authority of the United States. From the capital city of Washington, D.C. countable, figuratively, metonymically, uncountable
- 7 A placename:; A place in England:; A town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. countable, uncountable
- 8 A placename:; A place in England:; A village and civil parish in Horsham district, West Sussex, England (OS grid ref TQ1212). countable, uncountable
- 9 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A ghost town in Autauga County, Alabama. countable, uncountable
- 10 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A tiny city in Hempstead County, Arkansas. countable, uncountable
- 11 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A census-designated place in Nevada County, California. countable, uncountable
- 12 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A town in Litchfield County, Connecticut. countable, uncountable
- 13 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small city, the county seat of Wilkes County, Georgia. countable, uncountable
- 14 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A city in Tazewell County, Illinois. countable, uncountable
- 15 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A city, the county seat of Daviess County, Indiana. countable, uncountable
- 16 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small city, the county seat of Washington County, Iowa. countable, uncountable
- 17 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small city, the county seat of Washington County, Kansas. countable, uncountable
- 18 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A neighborhood of the city of Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky. countable, uncountable
- 19 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A village in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. countable, uncountable
- 20 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A town in Knox County, Maine. countable, uncountable
- 21 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. countable, uncountable
- 22 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; An unincorporated community in Macomb County, Michigan. countable, uncountable
- 23 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; An unincorporated community in Adams County, Mississippi. countable, uncountable
- 24 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A city in Franklin County, Missouri. countable, uncountable
- 25 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A village in Washington County, Nebraska. countable, uncountable
- 26 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire. countable, uncountable
- 27 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A borough of Warren County, New Jersey. countable, uncountable
- 28 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A town in Dutchess County, New York. countable, uncountable
- 29 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small city, the county seat of Beaufort County, North Carolina. countable, uncountable
- 30 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small town in McClain County, Oklahoma, named for Caddo chief "Little Boy" Washington. countable, uncountable
- 31 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A city, the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania. countable, uncountable
- 32 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A city in Washington County, Utah. countable, uncountable
- 33 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A town in Orange County, Vermont. countable, uncountable
- 34 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small town, the county seat of Rappahannock County, Virginia. countable, uncountable
- 35 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A census-designated place in Wood County, West Virginia. countable, uncountable
- 36 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A town in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
- 37 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A town in Shawano County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
- 38 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A town in Vilas County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
- 39 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small town in Sauk County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
- 40 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small town in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
- 41 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small town in Green County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
- 42 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A small town in Rusk County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
- 43 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; An unincorporated community in Door County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
- 44 A placename:; Several other locations in the United States, most of which are named for George Washington:; A large number of townships in the United States, listed under Washington Township. countable, uncountable
- 45 A placename:; A community in Oxford County, Ontario, Canada. countable, uncountable
- 46 A placename:; A community in Mahaica-Berbice, Guyana. countable, uncountable
- 47 A placename:; Several locations in the Philippines:; A barangay of San Jacinto, Masbate, Philippines. countable, uncountable
- 48 A placename:; Several locations in the Philippines:; A barangay of Escalante, Negros Occidental. countable, uncountable
- 49 A placename:; Several locations in the Philippines:; A barangay of Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines. countable, uncountable
- 50 A placename:; Several locations in the Philippines:; A barangay of Surigao, Surigao del Norte. countable, uncountable
- 51 A male given name transferred from the surname, popular during the first century of American independence, given in honor of George Washington. US, countable, uncountable
- 52 Ellipsis of University of Washington. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Which is the capital of the United States, Washington or New York?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "washington"?
Common synonyms include: art, authorities, capital city, capital-area, d.c., dc.
How do you use "washington" in a sentence?
Which is the capital of the United States, Washington or New York?
How do you pronounce "washington"?
Pronounced /ˈwɑʃɪŋtən/.
Etymology
Washington (the town in Tyne and Wear, northeast England): probably from the Old English place name Hwæssingatūn (literally “a settlement of the household of *Hwæssa”), from *Hwæssa (a Saxon chieftain's name) + -ing (“belonging to”) + tūn (“homestead, settlement”). It was attested in 1096 as Wasindone. Hwæssa is of uncertain origin, said to possibly correspond to waþ (“hunt”) + sige (“victory”), or possibly related to hwæte (“wheat”). There are other theories; more on Wikipedia. The surname derives from the town, and most places in the United States are named for George Washington.