mississippi
mississippi — noun
1. the U.S. state on the Gulf Coast whose capital is Jackson, often mentioned as a
the U.S. state on the Gulf Coast whose capital is Jackson, often mentioned as a place where people live, study, work, or travel.
Mina moved to Mississippi after getting a nursing job in Jackson.
pattern: move to Mississippi
Several towns in Mississippi prepared for flooding after days of rain.
pattern: in Mississippi
The family drove through Mississippi on the way to New Orleans.
pattern: drive through Mississippi
Owen studies music in Mississippi and visits Tennessee during holidays.
- in Mississippi
- to Mississippi
- through Mississippi
- Jackson, Mississippi
- MS
the postal abbreviation used in addresses and short official labels
Grammar Patterns
live in Mississippi
move to Mississippi
drive through Mississippi
Usage Note
Use 'in' for living, working, or studying in the state. In formal geography, this sense overlaps with geographical name/3.
Common Mistakes
2. the broad U.S. waterway that starts in Minnesota and continues south before reac
the broad U.S. waterway that starts in Minnesota and continues south before reaching Gulf waters.
A cargo boat moved slowly down the Mississippi near St. Louis.
short form: the Mississippi
The bridge across the Mississippi reopened after engineers checked it.
pattern: across the Mississippi
The class traced the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana.
full name: Mississippi River
Tomas photographed the Mississippi at sunset from a riverfront park.
- the Mississippi River
- along the Mississippi
- cross the Mississippi
- the Mississippi delta
- the Mississippi River
the full, learner-clear form
Grammar Patterns
the Mississippi River
along the Mississippi
cross the Mississippi
Usage Note
The full form 'the Mississippi River' is clearest for learners. In context, people often shorten it to 'the Mississippi'.
Common Mistakes
mississippi — geographical name
1. a central U.S. waterway roughly 2,340 miles long, beginning in Minnesota and emp
a central U.S. waterway roughly 2,340 miles long, beginning in Minnesota and emptying into the Gulf near Louisiana.
The atlas marked the Mississippi River from Minnesota to the Louisiana coast.
map context: Mississippi River route
In geography class, Mateo learned that the Mississippi forms borders for several states.
geography fact: forms state borders
New Orleans grew near the mouth of the Mississippi River.
river mouth near New Orleans
The report compared shipping on the Mississippi with rail transport inland.
- the Mississippi River
- the Mississippi River basin
- the mouth of the Mississippi
- the Mississippi delta
- the Mississippi River
full formal name
Grammar Patterns
the Mississippi River
the Mississippi flows
on the Mississippi River
Usage Note
This formal geographical sense focuses on the river's course, length, and role in the central United States.
Common Mistakes
2. a Canadian watercourse in eastern Ontario that bends toward the Ottawa River.
a Canadian watercourse in eastern Ontario that bends toward the Ottawa River.
The local map showed Ontario's Mississippi River flowing toward the Ottawa River.
Ontario context: toward the Ottawa River
A hiking guide described wetlands beside the Mississippi River in Ontario.
disambiguation: in Ontario
To avoid confusion, the article called it the Canadian Mississippi River.
contrast with the U.S. river
Leona rented a cabin near the Mississippi in Ontario for a quiet weekend.
Ontario context: near the Mississippi
- Ontario's Mississippi River
- the Canadian Mississippi
- the Ottawa River
- the Canadian Mississippi River
a clarifying phrase when contrast with the U.S. river matters
Grammar Patterns
the Mississippi River in Ontario
Ontario's Mississippi River
flows into the Ottawa River
Usage Note
Because this name is easily confused with the major U.S. river, writers often add 'in Ontario' or 'Canadian' for clarity.
Common Mistakes
3. the formal name of a southern U.S. Gulf Coast state with Jackson as capital and
the formal name of a southern U.S. Gulf Coast state with Jackson as capital and the river marking much of its west side.
The map showed Mississippi between Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama.
map context: neighboring states
Jackson is the capital of Mississippi and sits near the center of the state.
capital of Mississippi
The Mississippi River forms much of Mississippi's western border.
river as western border
The hurricane warning covered several counties in southern Mississippi.
- the state of Mississippi
- the capital of Mississippi
- southern Mississippi
- Mississippi's western border
- the state of Mississippi
a clear full form when the river could also be meant
- MS
postal abbreviation used in addresses
Grammar Patterns
the state of Mississippi
Mississippi borders Louisiana
the capital of Mississippi
Usage Note
Common in maps, textbooks, and official writing. Distinguish the state name from the river name by context or by saying 'the state of Mississippi'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- Mississippiannoun
- Mississippianadjective
Common collocations
Nouns
- the Mississippi River
- the state of Mississippi
- the capital of Mississippi
- the Mississippi delta
Phrases
- cross the Mississippi
- the mouth of the Mississippi
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Ontario's Mississippi River
Prepositions
- in Mississippi
- to Mississippi
- through Mississippi
- along the Mississippi