Michigan

The word “Michigan” means a U.S. state in the Great Lakes region, bordered by four of the five Great Lakes. In plain terms, a U.S. state named after the lake that borders it.

“Michigan” is pronounced MIH-shuh-gihn (/ˈmɪʃəɡɪn/ in IPA).

Here is “Michigan” used in a sentence: “Michigan is famous for its automotive industry and its extensive coastline along the Great Lakes.”

“Michigan” is a noun.

“Michigan” is a fairly common word in modern English.

Michigan borders four of the five Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie — giving it the longest freshwater coastline of any U.S. state. Its nickname, the Great Lakes State, reflects this. The lakes shape and surround its two peninsulas, defining much of the state's geography and character.

Michigan is best known as the historic heart of the American car industry, centred on Detroit, home to Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. It is also known for the Great Lakes, its two peninsulas joined by the Mackinac Bridge, freshwater beaches, and universities like the University of Michigan.

Michigan is split into the Lower Peninsula, shaped like a mitten, and the Upper Peninsula to the north. They are separated by the Straits of Mackinac, where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet, and joined by the Mackinac Bridge. The Upper Peninsula actually shares its only land border with Wisconsin.

The capital of Michigan is Lansing, in the Lower Peninsula. However, the largest and most famous city is Detroit, the centre of the U.S. automobile industry. Other major cities include Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor — home to the University of Michigan — and Flint, known for its manufacturing history.