Definition

Proper noun 1. A major river in the eastern United States: A river that originates in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and flows generally eastward, forming a significant portion of the border between Maryland and Virginia, before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. 2. A term for the U.S. federal government or Washington, D.C.: Used metonymically to refer to the seat of the U.S. federal government, its political establishment, or the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Usage Examples

• Referring to the river:
  • The Potomac River is a vital waterway for the region's ecosystem.
  • They went kayaking on the Potomac last weekend.
• Referring to the government/Washington, D.C.:
  • New regulations from across the Potomac will affect businesses nationwide.
  • The decision was made by policymakers on the banks of the Potomac.

Advanced Usage

• "Potomac fever": A colloquial term describing a strong desire to be involved in U.S. national politics, often associated with people who move to Washington, D.C.
  • After his internship, he caught Potomac fever and decided to pursue a career in politics.
• "North of the Potomac" / "South of the Potomac": Phrases used to distinguish locations, often with historical or cultural connotations related to the American Civil War, as the river was a symbolic border.
  • The cultural attitudes can differ significantly north and south of the Potomac.

Variants and Related Words

• Potomac River: The full, formal name of the river.
• Potomac Basin / Potomac Watershed: The geographical area drained by the Potomac River and its tributaries.

Synonyms

• For the government sense: Washington, Beltway (referring to the Interstate 495 highway encircling Washington, D.C., and by extension, the political insiders within it), the federal government.

Related Phrases

• "Cross the Potomac": Can literally mean to travel across the river, or figuratively mean to engage with the federal government in Washington, D.C.
  • The company's executives crossed the Potomac to lobby for the new bill.

Noun

1. term sometimes used to refer to Washington, D.C.
2. a river in the east central United States; rises in West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains and flows eastward, forming the boundary between Maryland and Virginia, to the Chesapeake Bay