Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A nickname for the U.S. state of Minnesota: "Gopher State" is the official state nickname of Minnesota. It refers to the state's historical association with the gopher, a burrowing rodent, and its use as a symbol.

Usage

• The term "Gopher State" is used as a proper noun to refer to the state of Minnesota, often in informal, historical, or promotional contexts. It is typically preceded by the definite article "the."
  • Minnesota is known as the Gopher State.
  • We took a road trip through the Gopher State last summer.

Advanced Usage

• The nickname is often used in conjunction with the state's official symbols, such as the state bird (common loon) or state flower (pink and white lady's slipper), to create a fuller picture of Minnesota's identity.
  • The Gopher State is also home to over 10,000 lakes.

Variants and Related Words

• Gopher (noun): A small, burrowing rodent. The nickname originates from a political cartoon from the 1850s depicting Minnesota settlers as gophers.
• Minnesota (proper noun): The official name of the state.
• North Star State (proper noun): Another, less common, nickname for Minnesota, referencing its state motto, "L'Étoile du Nord" (The Star of the North).

Synonyms

• Minnesota: The formal name of the state.
• The Land of 10,000 Lakes: A popular descriptive phrase for Minnesota, highlighting its numerous lakes.

Related Phrases

• "from the Gopher State": Used to indicate origin.
  • The senator, hailing from the Gopher State, proposed new agricultural legislation.

Noun

1. a midwestern state