Definition

Proper noun 1. A mountain in south central Alaska; the highest peak in North America: Denali, officially named Mount McKinley from 1917 to 2015, is the tallest mountain in North America. 2. 25th President of the United States (1897-1901): William McKinley, the 25th U.S. President, who served from 1897 until his assassination in 1901.

Usage Examples

• Geographical Feature:
  • Climbing McKinley is a major challenge for mountaineers.
  • The view of McKinley from the park is breathtaking.
• Historical Figure:
  • President McKinley led the nation during the Spanish-American War.
  • The McKinley administration is known for its economic policies.

Advanced Usage

• "McKinley era": Refers to the period of U.S. history during President William McKinley's term, often associated with economic growth and the beginning of American imperialism.
  • The McKinley era marked a shift in American foreign policy.
• "Like scaling McKinley": Used figuratively to describe an extremely difficult task or challenge.
  • Finishing this project on time will be like scaling McKinley.

Variants and Related Words

• Denali: The original and restored name (since 2015) for the mountain, meaning "the high one" or "the great one" in the Athabaskan language.
• Mount McKinley: The former official name for the mountain.
• McKinleyism: (Rare) Sometimes used to refer to the political or economic principles associated with President McKinley.

Synonyms

• For the mountain: Denali, The Great One.
• For the president: William McKinley, President McKinley.

Related Phrases

• "McKinley Tariff": Refers to the Tariff Act of 1890, a high protective tariff signed into law by then-Representative and later President William McKinley.
  • The McKinley Tariff was a controversial piece of legislation.
• "Assassination of McKinley": Refers to the shooting of President McKinley by Leon Czolgosz on September 6, 1901; he died eight days later.
  • The assassination of McKinley brought Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency.

Noun

1. a mountain in south central Alaska; the highest peak in North America (20,300 feet high)
2. 25th President of the United States; was assassinated by an anarchist (1843-1901)