Word
USA
Phoneticsusa
/ˌjuˌɛˈseɪ/
Definitions
01the country
n. Stands for United States of America. This is the most common short name for the country.
n. Abbreviation for United States of America. Used as a proper noun to refer to the federal republic in North America.
“The USA is one of the largest countries in the world by land area.”
“Diplomatic relations between the USA and its neighbours have evolved significantly over the last century due to shifting trade agreements.”
Usage
Always used with the definite article 'the' when functioning as a noun.
Pitfall
I am going to USA next summer.
I am going to the USA next summer.
When using USA as a noun, you must include the definite article 'the'.
Teaching tip
While 'the US' is more common in news headlines, 'the USA' is frequently used in international contexts and sports.
02the military branch
n. Stands for United States Army. This is the branch of the military that fights on land.
n. Abbreviation for United States Army. This initialism is used within military and government contexts to specify the land-based branch of the armed forces.
“He joined the USA after finishing college to serve his country.”
“The USA logistical command coordinated the transport of supplies across the desert during the training exercise.”
Technical
Usage
Often used as a modifier before other nouns, such as 'USA personnel'.
Teaching tip
In general conversation, people usually just say 'the Army'. This specific initialism is more common in official documents or on uniforms.
Synonyms
03legal official
n. Stands for United States Attorney. This is a lawyer who represents the government in court.
n. Abbreviation for United States Attorney. Refers to the chief federal law enforcement officer in a specific judicial district.
“The USA announced that they would investigate the company for fraud.”
“The USA for the Southern District of New York led the prosecution in the high-profile financial crime case.”
Technical · Formal
Usage
Usually refers to the office or the individual holding the position.
Teaching tip
This is a very specific legal term; learners are more likely to encounter 'prosecutor' in everyday news.
Synonyms
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/usa