Definition

Proper noun: A group of islands in the Caribbean Sea, located in the Virgin Islands archipelago. They are an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States.

Usage

The term "United States Virgin Islands" is used to refer specifically to the U.S. territory, distinguishing it from the neighboring British Virgin Islands. It functions as a singular proper noun for the territory as a whole.

Examples: * Tourism is the primary industry of the United States Virgin Islands. * She took a cruise that stopped in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. * The official language of the United States Virgin Islands is English.

Advanced Usage

• "the U.S. Virgin Islands": This is the common abbreviated form.
  • We vacationed in the U.S. Virgin Islands last winter.
• When used adjectivally, it is often hyphenated.
  • He studies United States Virgin Islands history.

Variants and Related Words

• USVI: A common initialism.
  • The package was shipped to the USVI.
• American Virgin Islands: A less common, informal variant.
• Virgin Islands of the United States: The formal legal name.

Synonyms

• U.S. Virgin Islands (standard abbreviation)
• American Virgin Islands (informal)

Related Phrases

• "St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas": The three main islands that constitute the United States Virgin Islands.
  • The United States Virgin Islands consists of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas, along with many smaller islands.

Noun

1. more than 130 southeastern Virgin Islands; a dependent territory of the United States