Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The United States of America: A federal republic in North America consisting of 50 states, 48 of which are contiguous, plus Alaska and Hawaii. It declared independence in 1776.
   • The United States Army: The land warfare service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (Country):
  • She moved to the USA for her studies.
  • The USA is a major global economy.
• Proper noun (Military):
  • He served in the USA for four years.
  • The USA has bases in several allied countries.

Advanced Usage

• "The USA": The definite article "the" is almost always used when referring to the country in full or formal contexts (e.g., ). It is less common but acceptable to say "in USA" in very informal contexts or headlines.
  • The President addressed the nation of the USA.

Variants and Related Words

• United States (U.S.): A common synonym for the country.
  • The United States has a diverse population.
• America: A common, though geographically imprecise, shorthand for the USA.
  • She is a citizen of America.
• U.S. Army: The full name of the military branch.
  • He enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Synonyms

• United States of America: Full formal name.
• United States (U.S.): Standard abbreviated form.
• America: Common colloquial term (Note: This can also refer to the continents).
• The States: Informal term, often used by non-residents.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary and most frequent meaning of "USA" is the country. The military meaning is specific and usually clear from context (e.g., verbs like , ).
• When written, it is often styled as "U.S.A." with periods, though "USA" is also standard.

Noun

1. the army of the United States of America; the agency that organizes and trains soldiers for land warfare
2. North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776