Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • One of the original 13 British colonies that formed the United States: Rhode Island was a colony founded on principles of religious freedom and was one of the first to declare independence from Great Britain.
   • A state in the New England region of the United States: It is the smallest U.S. state by area, located in the northeastern part of the country.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams in 1636.
  • Providence is the capital of Rhode Island.

Advanced Usage

• "Rhode Island Red": A breed of domestic chicken originally developed in Rhode Island.
  • The Rhode Island Red is known for being a good egg layer.
• "Rhode Island-sized": Used informally to describe a very small area, referencing the state's size.
  • A chunk of ice the size of Rhode Island broke off the glacier.

Variants and Related Words

• Rhode Islander (noun): A person who is from or lives in Rhode Island.
  • She is a proud Rhode Islander.

Synonyms

• The Ocean State (nickname): An official nickname for the state of Rhode Island, referring to its extensive coastline and maritime history.
• Little Rhody (informal nickname): A common informal name for the state.

Noun

1. one of the British colonies that formed the United States
2. a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies; the smallest state