Definition

Proper noun 1. The District of Columbia: A federal district that is the capital of the United States of America, containing the city of Washington. It is not part of any U.S. state and was established from land donated by the states of Maryland and Virginia.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The White House is located in D.C.
  • She moved to D.C. to work for the government.

Advanced Usage

• "Inside the Beltway": A phrase often used to describe the culture and politics specific to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, referencing the Capital Beltway highway that encircles the city.
  • That policy is popular inside the Beltway but not in the rest of the country.

Variants and Related Words

• Washington, D.C.: The full, formal name for the city and district.
• The District: A common informal name for D.C.
• DC: A common written abbreviation.

Synonyms

• Washington
• The Nation's Capital
• The Federal District

Related Phrases

• D.C. resident: A person who lives in the District of Columbia.
  • D.C. residents pay federal taxes but lack full voting representation in Congress.

Noun

1. the district occupied entirely by the city of Washington; chosen by George Washington as the site of the capital of the United States and created out of land ceded by Maryland and Virginia