# calif

/ˈkæɫɪf/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/calif
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

the standard short way to write the name of the U.S. state California. You usually see this in addresses or news reports.

For teachers: a standard historical abbreviation for the state of California. While still found in older texts and specific journalistic styles, it has largely been superseded by the two-letter postal code CA.

## Examples

- The letter was addressed to a small town in Calif.
- Older newspaper style guides often required writers to use Calif. instead of the full state name in datelines.
- Legal citations and archival records from the mid-twentieth century frequently employ the Calif. abbreviation to denote jurisdiction before the modern postal system standardized two-letter codes.

## Usage notes

- Usually written with a period (Calif.) as it is a truncated abbreviation. It is a proper noun and must always be capitalized.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.