name Uncommon

Delaware

DEH-luh-wair

Delaware (name) means one of the fifty US states, the first to ratify the Constitution. Example: “Delaware is famous for having no sales tax.”

name

One of the fifty US states, the first to ratify the Constitution.

"Delaware is famous for having no sales tax."

A river running through New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

"George Washington famously crossed the Delaware River in 1776."

noun

A member of the Lenape people, an Indigenous nation of the mid-Atlantic United States.

"The Delaware lived along the river long before European settlers arrived."

A variety of small, sweet, amber-colored grape grown in the US.

"Delaware grapes are often used to make sweet white wines."

How to use Delaware

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBest known as a small US state on the East Coast, also the name of a river and a Native American people.

Word forms

Delawares plural

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_____ is famous for having no sales tax.

Etymology

Named after Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an early colonial governor of Virginia; the river, the Lenape people, and the state all take their name from his title.

Synonyms

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lenape lenni lenape first state

Related words

lenape

Rhymes for Delaware

are dare care hare mare fare bare rare ware gare share snare

See all rhymes for Delaware →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Delaware” mean?

The word “Delaware” means one of the fifty US states, the first to ratify the Constitution. In plain terms, best known as a small US state on the East Coast, also the name of a river and a Native American people.

How do you pronounce “Delaware”?

“Delaware” is pronounced DEH-luh-wair (/ˈdɛləwɛɹ/ in IPA).

How do you use “Delaware” in a sentence?

Here is “Delaware” used in a sentence: “Delaware is famous for having no sales tax.”

What part of speech is “Delaware”?

Depending on how it is used, “Delaware” can be a name and a noun.

Is “Delaware” a common word?

“Delaware” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Delaware” have?

“Delaware” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the fifty US states, the first to ratify the Constitution.

What is the difference between the state of Delaware and the Delaware River?

Delaware is one of the fifty US states, known as the first to ratify the Constitution. The Delaware River is a separate feature, a river running through New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, so the same name refers both to the state and to the river along its border.

Why is Delaware called the First State?

Delaware is nicknamed the First State because it was the first of the original states to ratify the United States Constitution. That historic vote is the reason the state is so widely associated with being first.

What is the connection between Delaware and the Lenape people?

"Delaware" is also used as a name for a member of the Lenape, an Indigenous nation of the mid-Atlantic United States. The Lenape lived in the region around the Delaware River, and the river, the state, and the people all came to share the Delaware name.

Does the Delaware grape have anything to do with the state?

The Delaware grape, a small, sweet, amber-colored variety grown in the United States, shares its name with the state and river but is a separate meaning that refers to the fruit. The grape is used for eating and for making wine and juice, and the shared name does not mean it grows only in the state.

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