Illinois

noun

Il·li·nois ˌi-lə-ˈnȯi

also

-ˈnȯiz

plural Illinois

: a confederation of Algonquian-speaking Indigenous peoples of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin

: a member of any of the Illinois peoples

: the Algonquian language of the Illinois

Word History

Etymology

French, earlier Eriniouai, singular, probably from a word in an Algonquian language derived from Proto-Algonquian *elen- ordinary + *-we· make a sound

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of Illinois was in 1648

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Illinois.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Illinois. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Geographical Definition

Illinois

geographical name

Il·li·nois

ˌi-lə-ˈnȯi,

also

-ˈnȯiz

river 273 miles (439 kilometers) long in Illinois flowing southwest into the Mississippi River

state in the central part of the U.S. having the Mississippi River as its western boundary and bordering on Lake Michigan in the northeast; capital Springfield area 56,400 square miles (146,640 square kilometers), population 12,830,632

Illinoisan

ˌi-lə-ˈnȯi-ən

also

-ˈnȯi-zᵊn

adjective or noun

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Illinois

noun

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near Illinois

Cite this Entry

Geographical Definition

geographical name