District of Columbia

American  

noun

1. a federal area in the eastern United States, on the Potomac, coextensive with the federal capital, Washington. 69 sq. mi. (179 sq. km). DC (for use with zip code), D.C.

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District of Columbia British  

noun

1. Abbreviation: D.C..   DC.  a federal district of the eastern US, coextensive with the federal capital, Washington. Pop: 564 326 (2003 est). Area: 178 sq km (69 sq miles)

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District of Columbia Cultural  

1. The district occupied entirely by Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States; bordered by Maryland to the north and Virginia to the south.

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Discover More

The District of Columbia was established by acts of Congress in 1790 and 1791 on a site selected by George Washington.

Example Sentences

Santander Consumer did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement it paid to 33 states — including Oregon — and the District of Columbia.

From Salon • Mar. 30, 2026

This prevailing interpretation was upended in 2008 when the Supreme Court decided District of Columbia v.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance has named the District of Columbia a “Digital Inclusion Trailblazer” for eight years in a row.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on March 9.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia prohibit people from voting while incarcerated for a felony offense.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander