Etymology

sunbelt

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Today it means: An area or belt of land that receives a lot of sun; specifically, a zone comprising the southern and western states of the USA where the weather is typically sunny, characterised by an influx of population from the north and often typified as having conservative political views. Full definition →

First used 20th c.
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The story

Compound of sun + belt. Purportedly coined by American politician Sam Rayburn.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 20th c. An area or belt of land that receives a lot of sun; specifically, a zone comprising the southern and western states of the USA where the weather is typically sunny, characterised by an influx of population from the north and often typified as having conservative political views.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.