Indiana

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A state located in the Midwestern United States known for its farmland and manufacturing industries ; a city or area bearing the name derived from the state ; a designation used in various enterprises, organizations, or institutions associated with this geographical region
2. A U.S. state recognized for its agricultural heritage and industrial economy ; a place name used for municipalities or regions inspired by the state ; a term employed in branding or naming that relates to the geographic state or its cultural identity
3. A defined political territory within the United States characterized by flatlands and a manufacturing base ; a geographical label applied to towns or districts sharing the name ; a name used in titles or descriptors connecting entities to the state’s location or features

Etymology: In 1800, a new territory was carved out of the Northwest Territory and given a name that described its people rather than a founder or a landmark. The name pairs "Indian" with the Latin-style ending "-a," so it reads roughly as "land of the Indians." It was chosen to note the territory's large Native American population. The name also drew on the older phrase "Indian Territory," a term already in use for the broader region west of the settled states. Newly settled areas later took the name for themselves, which is how a single territorial label came to cover a future state.

Synonyms: hoosier state