Definition

Noun: A political and administrative division that is one of the six primary constituent units of the Commonwealth of Australia. Each state has its own constitution, parliament, government, and certain sovereign powers, while remaining part of the federal nation.

Usage

The term "Australian state" is used to refer specifically to one of these six primary federated entities. It is a formal and geographical term.

Examples: * The Australian state of Queensland is known for its tropical climate and the Great Barrier Reef. * Victoria is the smallest mainland Australian state by area. * Each Australian state has its own police force and education system.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in comparative political or economic discussions (e.g., "the economic performance of the six Australian states").
• It distinguishes the major states from Australia's internal territories (e.g., the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory), which have a different constitutional status.

Variants and Related Words

• State: In an Australian context, "state" is commonly understood to mean an Australian state (e.g., "I'm traveling to another state next week").
• State and Territory: This phrase collectively refers to all of Australia's primary sub-national divisions.

Different Meanings

• As a proper noun phrase, "Australian state" has only the specific meaning defined above. It does not have other general meanings.

Synonyms

• Member state (of the Commonwealth of Australia)
• Constituent state (of Australia)

Related Phrases

• State government: The government of an Australian state.
• State border: The boundary between two Australian states.
• Interstate: Occurring or existing between different Australian states (e.g., interstate travel, interstate rivalry).

Noun

1. one of the several states constituting Australia