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Showing results for San Francisco. Search instead for San+Francisco.

San Francisco

American  
[san fruhn-sis-koh, fran-] / ˌsæn frənˈsɪs koʊ, fræn- /

noun

  1. a seaport in W California, on San Francisco Bay: earthquake and fire 1906; United Nations Conference 1945.


San Francisco British  
/ ˌsæn frænˈsɪskəʊ /

noun

  1. a port in W California, situated around the Golden Gate: developed rapidly during the California gold rush; a major commercial centre and one of the world's finest harbours. Pop: 751 682 (2003 est)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

San Francisco Cultural  
  1. A city in northern California.


Discover More

A major West Coast intellectual center.

Also, a center of gay culture.

Known for its history of major earthquakes.

Site of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Other Word Forms

  • San Franciscan adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Pelosi also raised a concern echoed by other San Francisco politicians, that turning Alcatraz back into a functioning prison would mean the loss of an iconic landmark.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

The funding request, included in the White House's proposed 2027 budget, would cover the first year of converting the San Francisco Bay site into what officials describe as a "state-of-the-art secure prison facility."

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Older adults are far more likely to develop severe illness from flu or COVID, and new research from UC San Francisco offers an explanation.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Sylmar 5, San Francisco Lincoln 2: Tim Sepulveda had two hits and three RBIs while Rickee Luevano went three for three to lead Sylmar.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

There was nothing wrong with Mom, Daddy, or San Francisco.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn