lancaster

IPA/ˈlæŋ.kæs.tər/
KK[lˈænkˌæstɚ]IPA/ˈlæŋ.kæs.tɚ/

lancaster — noun

1. a historic city in Lancashire, north-west England, best known for its medieval c

1.nounB1
Definition

a historic city in Lancashire, north-west England, best known for its medieval castle and its university, lying north of Liverpool near the Morecambe Bay coast.

Example

Chidi moved to Lancaster to study engineering at the university.

proper noun as destination

The Lancaster Castle was built nearly a thousand years ago.

named landmark with city name as modifier

Common collocations
  • city of Lancaster
  • Lancaster Castle
  • Lancaster University
  • Duchy of Lancaster
  • Lancaster in Lancashire
  • north of Liverpool

Usage Note

Always capitalised as a proper noun. Frequently used with a preceding definite article in geographical descriptions ('the city of Lancaster'), but without an article when used as a location ('She lives in Lancaster'). In British writing, 'Lancaster' alone almost always refers to this city in Lancashire, north of Liverpool near the Morecambe Bay coast.

Common Mistakes

A new hospital was built in lancaster.
A new hospital was built in Lancaster.
Place names must always be capitalised.

2. a city in southern California, located in the Antelope Valley to the north-east

2.nounB2
Definition

a city in southern California, located in the Antelope Valley to the north-east of Los Angeles.

Example

Rodrigo found work as a nurse at a hospital in Lancaster, California.

city name followed by state for disambiguation

The drive from Lancaster to downtown Los Angeles takes about an hour.

Common collocations
  • Lancaster, California
  • from Lancaster to Los Angeles
  • Antelope Valley

Usage Note

When writing to a US audience, include the state name 'California' after the city name on first mention to avoid confusion with other cities named Lancaster.

3. a city in south-central Ohio, lying to the south-east of the state capital, Colu

3.nounB2
Definition

a city in south-central Ohio, lying to the south-east of the state capital, Columbus.

Example

Bilal stopped for lunch in Lancaster on his way to Columbus.

place name as stopover location

The historic square in Lancaster, Ohio hosts a weekly farmers' market.

Common collocations
  • Lancaster, Ohio
  • Lancaster, OH

Usage Note

This Lancaster is smaller and less internationally known than its Pennsylvania or UK namesakes. The US Postal Service abbreviation OH is commonly used in addresses.

4. a city in south-eastern Pennsylvania, lying east-south-east of the state capital

4.nounB2
Definition

a city in south-eastern Pennsylvania, lying east-south-east of the state capital, Harrisburg.

Example

Reema visited the Amish markets near Lancaster, Pennsylvania last spring.

city name with state in apposition

Amihan's grandparents have lived in the Lancaster area for over thirty years.

Common collocations
  • Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  • Lancaster, PA
  • Lancaster County

Usage Note

Lancaster, Pennsylvania is the largest US city bearing this name and is located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, an area known for its Amish communities.

5. a city in north-eastern Texas, situated just to the south of Dallas.

5.nounB2
Definition

a city in north-eastern Texas, situated just to the south of Dallas.

Example

Andrew took a job at a warehouse in Lancaster, Texas after graduating.

place name with state for clarity

The community college in Lancaster offers evening classes for working adults.

Common collocations
  • Lancaster, Texas
  • Lancaster, TX
  • south of Dallas

Usage Note

Lancaster, Texas is a suburban city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Its proximity to Dallas makes it a common commuter town.

Word family

  • Lancastrian
    nounC1
  • Lancastrian
    adjectiveC1
  • Lancashire
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These English city names all end in '-caster' or '-chester', which come from the Latin 'castra' meaning 'fort' or 'camp.' Lancaster sits on the River Lune, so its name means 'Roman fort on the Lune.' Manchester means 'fort at Mamucium' (the original Roman fort). Doncaster means 'fort on the Don.' Gloucester means 'Roman fort at Glevum.' Unlike the others, Lancaster also refers to the Duchy of Lancaster, a historic royal title still used today. When reading British texts, 'Lancaster' on its own most often refers to the city in Lancashire, not to the US cities sharing the name.

Lancaster ↗ManchesterDoncasterGloucester

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Lancaster Castle
  • Lancaster University
  • Lancaster County
  • Lancaster City Council
  • Duchy of Lancaster

Phrases

  • the city of Lancaster
  • the Lancaster area
  • Lancaster, [State]

Prepositions

  • in Lancaster
  • to Lancaster
  • from Lancaster
  • near Lancaster
  • outside Lancaster

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinMiddle EnglishEnglish

The name Lancaster comes from Old English 'Loncastre', which combines 'Lune' (the river that flows through the city) with 'ceaster' (from Latin 'castra', meaning a Roman fort or military camp). So Lancaster literally means 'Roman fort on the River Lune.' The name first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Loncastre'. Over time the spelling shifted from Loncastre to Lancaster. The city gave its name to the royal House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses, and to the many towns and cities called Lancaster in the United States.