ENGLISH
REFERENCE

arkansas

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɑɹkənˌsɑ// ar·kan·sas

n. a state in the southern part of the United States. It is known for its natural beauty, including mountains, rivers, and hot springs.

n. a landlocked state in the south-central region of the United States. Proper noun; always capitalized.


SIMPLE

The capital city of Arkansas is Little Rock.

CONTEXTUAL

Many tourists visit Arkansas every year to hike in the Ozark Mountains and see the wildlife.

COMPLEX

The agricultural sector in Arkansas remains a vital component of the state's economy, particularly through the large-scale production of rice and poultry for national distribution.

Synonyms
Origin

From the name of the Arkansas River, from French Arcansas, a (plural) designation of either a Siouan tribe or the Quapaw. This designation is sometimes claimed to derive from a Quapaw word akakaze (“land of downriver people”) or a Lakota/Dakota word akakaze (“people of the south wind”); more likely, it derives from a Siouan ethnonym cognate to Kansa (whence also the name of the state of Kansas).

Usage

Proper noun — always capitalized. The final 's' is silent in standard American English pronunciation.

Pitfall

I am going to the ArkansasI am going to ArkansasNames of US states are proper nouns and do not take a definite article.

© 2026 English Reference