English Reference

Word

pittsburgh

Phoneticspitts·burgh

/ˈpɪtsbɝɡ/

Definition

n. a major city in the United States located in the state of Pennsylvania. It is famous for its history of making steel and its many bridges.

n. a major industrial and commercial city in the northeastern United States, situated at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. Historically significant as a global hub for steel production.

Examples

“Pittsburgh is known for its many steel bridges.”

“After the decline of the steel industry, Pittsburgh successfully transitioned into a center for technology and healthcare.”

“The skyline of Pittsburgh is defined by the dramatic meeting of three rivers, a geographic feature that necessitated the construction of hundreds of bridges throughout the metropolitan area.”

Examples

simple

“Pittsburgh is known for its many steel bridges.”

contextual

“After the decline of the steel industry, Pittsburgh successfully transitioned into a center for technology and healthcare.”

complex

“The skyline of Pittsburgh is defined by the dramatic meeting of three rivers, a geographic feature that necessitated the construction of hundreds of bridges throughout the metropolitan area.”

Usage

As a proper noun, it is almost always used without an article.

Pitfall

I am visiting the Pittsburgh

I am visiting Pittsburgh

Names of cities do not take the definite article 'the'.

Etymology

From Pitt + -s- + -burgh (“fortified place”), named after William Pitt the Elder.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference