Sunbelt

or Sun Belt

[ suhn-belt ]

noun

, (sometimes lowercase)

1. the southern and southwestern region of the U.S.

Sunbelt

/ ˈsʌnˌbɛlt /

noun

1. the southern states of the USA

Sunbelt

1. States in the South and Southwest marked by warm climate , rapid economic and population growth in the last two decades, and (often) political conservatism .

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sunbelt¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

This Sunbelt state with a fierce independent streak has long been at the forefront of the nation’s immigration debate due to its 378-mile border with Mexico and its large Hispanic and immigrant populations.

From Seattle Times

The southern parts of the U.S. tend to be more religious, so it’s not surprising to see three Sunbelt cities with the lowest share of nonreligious residents among large metros.

From Seattle Times

Without him, hockey isn’t as strong here as it is on the youth and pro levels, and without him there’s no Sunbelt expansion.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of the highest cost-burden rates for renters 65 and older were in Sunbelt areas traditionally popular for retirement: Las Vegas; San Diego; Raleigh, North Carolina; Miami and Daytona Beach, Florida.

From Seattle Times

Jeff Reid, 34, left a job doing business development for Mesa Natural Gas Solutions, a company supplying natural gas generators to shale operations, in February to join Sunbelt Solomon.

From Seattle Times