Definition

Proper noun: * The national anthem of the United States of America: A specific song, officially adopted in 1931, that serves as the country's national anthem. Its lyrics come from a poem titled "Defence of Fort M'Henry" written by Francis Scott Key in 1814.

Usage

• The title is always capitalized: .
• It is used to refer specifically to the official national anthem song.
• It is often performed at the beginning of official ceremonies, public events, and sporting games in the United States.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to sing/perform The Star-Spangled Banner": The standard phrasing for the act of presenting the anthem.
  • A famous singer was invited to perform The Star-Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl.
• The phrase can be used metonymically to represent American patriotism or official proceedings.
  • The protest began after The Star-Spangled Banner was played.

Variants and Related Words

• National anthem: The general term for a country's official patriotic song. is the national anthem of the United States.
• "The Stars and Stripes": A common nickname for the flag of the United States, which is the subject of the anthem's lyrics.
• "Star-Spangled" (adj.): Describes something decorated or covered with stars, like the flag mentioned in the anthem's title and lyrics.

Synonyms

• U.S. national anthem: A direct descriptive synonym.
• American national anthem: A direct descriptive synonym.

Notes on Meaning

• The term refers exclusively to the song itself. The poem written by Francis Scott Key was originally titled "Defence of Fort M'Henry." It was later set to the tune of a popular British song and renamed before its official adoption.
• The first line of the anthem is "O say can you see," and it famously describes "the star-spangled banner" (the American flag) flying over Fort McHenry.

Noun

1. a poem written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 was set to music and adopted by Congress in 1931 as the national anthem of the United States