Definition

Proper noun: * Old Dominion: A nickname for the U.S. state of Virginia. The term historically signifies Virginia's status as the oldest English colonial possession in North America, granted by the English Crown.

Usage

• The nickname "Old Dominion" is used formally and informally to refer to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• It is often used in historical contexts, official state mottos, and cultural references.
• Example:

Advanced Usage

• "The Old Dominion State": This is the full, official slogan derived from the nickname, commonly used on license plates and in state promotional materials.
  • Example: Welcome to the Old Dominion State!

Variants and Related Words

• Virginia (n): The official name of the state.
• Commonwealth of Virginia (n): The formal legal designation.

Synonyms

• The Commonwealth (when context clearly refers to Virginia).

Related Phrases

• "Mother of Presidents": Another historical nickname for Virginia, referencing the number of U.S. Presidents born there.
• "Mother of States": A nickname noting that all or part of several other U.S. states were carved from Virginia's original colonial territory.

Noun

1. a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War