state

1 of 2

noun

ˈstāt 

often attributive

1

a

: mode or condition of being

a state of readiness

b(1)

: condition of mind or temperament

in a highly nervous state

(2)

: a condition of abnormal tension or excitement

2

a

: a condition or stage in the physical being of something

insects in the larval state

the gaseous state of water

b

: any of various conditions characterized by definite quantities (as of energy, angular momentum, or magnetic moment) in which an atomic system may exist

3

a

: social position

especially : high rank

b(1)

: elaborate or luxurious style of living

(2)

: formal dignity : pomp

—usually used with in

4

a

: a body of persons constituting a special class in a society : estate sense 3

b

states plural : the members or representatives of the governing classes assembled in a legislative body

c

obsolete : a person of high rank (as a noble)

5

a

: a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory

especially : one that is sovereign

b

: the political organization of such a body of people

c

: a government or politically organized society having a particular character

a police state

the welfare state

6

: the operations or concerns of the government of a country

7

a

: one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government

the fifty states

b

States plural : The United States of America

8

: the territory of a state

state

2 of 2

verb

stated; stating

transitive verb

1

: to set by regulation or authority

2

: to express the particulars of especially in words : report

broadly : to express in words

statable adjective

or stateable

ˈstā-tə-bəl 

Synonyms

Noun

• commonwealth
• country
• land
• nation
• sovereignty
• sovranty

Verb

• articulate
• clothe
• couch
• express
• formulate
• phrase
• put
• say
• word

Examples of state in a Sentence

Noun

Happiness is the state or condition of being happy.

We must keep our armed forces in a constant state of readiness.

She meditates to achieve a higher state of being.

The building is in such a sorry state that it's hardly worth fixing.

water in a gaseous state

the solid and liquid states

the member states of the United Nations Security Council

Verb

The lawyer will state the facts of the case.

He stated his name in full.

I was merely stating an opinion.

“This is a difficult situation,” he stated simply.

Please state the purpose of your visit.

I'd like to state for the record that I disagree with the board's decision.

For the reasons stated above, I hereby withdraw from the competition.

The rules clearly state that you can only draw one card.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Helicopter ball drop before Utah football game goes viral A Utah high school football state championship went viral as a helicopter dropped a ball onto the field after a traditional coin toss. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024

The New South Wales state government is supporting Season 2 through Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024

Verb

Fur trappers, the almanac stated, used this time also to hunt beavers for their pelts. —John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 22 Nov. 2024

Generally, the atmospheric pressure of the storm must drop by at least 24 millibars to be classified as a bomb cyclone, the weather service stated. —Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stat, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French estat, from Latin status, from stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing state

• a good/bad state of repair
• anti-state
• anxiety state
• buffer state
• chief of state
• city-state
• client state
• counter-state
• deep state
• excited state
• garrison state
• ground state
• head of state
• in a state of denial
• in a state of grace
• in a state of shock
• in no (fit) state
• lie in state
• nation-state
• oxidation state
• persistent vegetative state
• police state
• separation of church and state
• ship of state
• slave state
• solid-state
• state aid
• state bank
• state bird
• state capitalism
• state church
• state college
• state flower
• state holiday
• state of mind
• state of preservation
• state of the art
• state of undress
• state of war
• state park
• state's attorney
• state's evidence
• state socialism
• state terrorism
• state the obvious
• state tree
• state university
• steady state
• steady state theory
• sub-state
• swing state
• turn state's evidence
• welfare state

Kids Definition

state

1 of 3 noun

ˈstāt 

1

a

: manner or condition of being

a state of readiness

b

: condition of mind or disposition

in a highly nervous state

2

a

: a condition or stage of the physical makeup of something

water in the gaseous state

b

: a stage in the growth or development of a plant or animal

the larval state

3

a

: a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory

b

: the political organization of such a body of people

4

: one of the units of a nation having a federal government

the United States of America

5

: the territory of a state

stateless

-ləs

adjective

state

2 of 3 adjective

1

: suitable or used for ceremonies or official occasions

state robes

2

: of or relating to a national state or to one state of a federal government

a state church

a state legislature

3

: of or relating to the government : governmental

state secrets

state

3 of 3 verb

stated; stating

1

: to set by regulation or authority

the law stated times for inspection

2

: to express in words

state an opinion

Medical Definition

state

noun

ˈstāt 

: mode or condition of being: as

a

: condition of mind or temperament

a manic state

b

: a condition or stage in the physical being of something

the gaseous state of water

Legal Definition

state

noun

often attributive

1

a

: a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory

especially : one that is sovereign

b

: the political organization that has supreme civil authority and political power and serves as the basis of government see also compelling state interest at interest sense 3a, separation of church and state

c

: a government or politically organized society having a particular character

a police state

2

: the operations or concerns of the government of a country : the sphere of administration and supreme political power of a country (as in international relations)

secrets of state

affairs of state

3

a

: one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government

specifically : one of the fifty such units comprising the great part of the U.S. see also state law

b

: the territory of a state