ENGLISH
REFERENCE

illinois

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˌɪɫəˈnɔɪ// illi·nois

n. a state in the Midwestern United States. It is famous for the city of Chicago and its large areas of farmland.

n. a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Mississippi River to the west and Lake Michigan to the northeast.


SIMPLE

Chicago is the largest city in Illinois.

CONTEXTUAL

Many people travel across Illinois to see the historic sites related to Abraham Lincoln.

COMPLEX

The economic landscape of Illinois is defined by a sharp contrast between the industrial and financial hub of Chicago and the vast agricultural expanses of the central and southern regions.

Synonyms
Origin

From French Illinois, an adaptation of an Algonquian (perhaps Ojibwe) name derived from Miami ilenweewa (“he speaks the regular way”).

Usage

Always capitalized as a proper noun. The final 's' is silent in standard English pronunciation.

Pitfall

I am going to the IllinoisI am going to IllinoisNames of most U.S. states, including Illinois, do not take a definite article.

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