Virginia

plural Virginias

1. countableuncountableA state of the United States. Official name: Commonwealth of Virginia. Capital: Richmond.

   And on March 21, Virginia passed a law banning colorants from school food, effective July 1, 2027.

   2025 March 29, Kristen Rogers, “Over half of US states are trying to eliminate food dyes. Here’s what you can do now”, in CNN

   2 more examples

   We, whose names are underwritten, the loyall Subjects of our dread Soveraigne Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the glorie of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and the honor of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colonie in the Northerne parts of Virginia; doe by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civill Body politike, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of the ends aforesaid:[...]

   1622 [1620], “Mayflower Compact”, in Purchas His Pilgrimes, page 313

   Resendiz was last seen on May 29 in her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk, according to a missing person’s alert issued by Virginia State Police on June 3.

   2025 June 13, Rosa Flores, “Missing Navy sailor found dead in Virginia, another sailor in custody”, in CNN

   Synonyms: Old Dominion, State of Virginia, VA, Va., Virg.

2. countableuncountableA former colony that was a part of the British Empire.
3. countableuncountableastronomy50 Virginia, a main belt asteroid.

   Synonyms: 50 Virginia, ㊿

4. countableuncountableA female given name from Latin.

   1380s-1390s, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales: The Physician's Tale "Daughter," quoth he, "Virginia by thy name, / There be two wayes, either death or shame, / That thou must suffer, - alas that I was bore!

   4 more examples

   Here, in due time, she was brought to bed of a daughter, whom she christened by the name of Virginia; not so much out of respect to her last mistress, who bore that name, as because she considered it peculiarly ladylike and genteel.

   1840, Frederick Marryat, chapter III, in Poor Jack

   O sweet Virginia Dare! / Thou art the lily of our love, / The forest's sylph-like queen, / The first-born bud from Saxon stem / That this New World hath seen!

   1854, Lydia Howard Sigourney, The Western Home, and Other Poems, Parry & McMillan, published 1854, page 87

   She said her name was Virginia Severson. It suited her. She looked very virginal, and clean, calm, cool in a Scandinavian sort of way.

   1956, Charlotte Armstrong, A Dram of Poison, Coward-McCann, pages 164–165

   The city of Waukesha confirmed the names of five victims as Virginia Sorenson, 79; Leanna Owen, 71; Tamara Durand, 52; Jane Kulich, 52; and Wilhelm Hospel, 81.

   2022 October 26, Christina Zdanowicz, Claudia Dominguez, Lauren M. Johnson and Sara Smart, “The Waukesha victims included an 8-year-old boy, a loving grandmother and a woman excited to make her debut in the Dancing Grannies”, in CNN

5. Any of several places, in the United States and elsewhere:
   1. countableuncountableA suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
   2. countableuncountableA town, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
   3. countableuncountableA community in the town of Georgina, Ontario, Canada.
   4. countableuncountableA municipality of Lempira department, Honduras.
   5. countableuncountableA town in County Cavan, Ireland (Irish grid ref N 6087).
   6. countableuncountableA suburb of Monrovia, Liberia.
   7. countableuncountableA gold mining town in the Free State, South Africa.
   8. countableuncountableThe former name of an unincorporated community in Placer County, California, now Virginiatown.
   9. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Cass County, Illinois, United States.
   10. countableuncountableA city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States.
   11. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Bates County, Missouri, United States.
   12. countableuncountableA village in Gage County, Nebraska, United States.
   13. countableuncountableA barangay of Santo Niño, Cagayan, Philippines.
   14. countableuncountableA barangay of Laua-an, Antique, Philippines.
   15. countableuncountableA barangay of Culaba, Biliran, Philippines.
6. countableuncountableA surname.

plural Virginias

1. slangvagina

   Synonyms: axe wound, bearded clam, beaver, berk, bonne bouche, box, bun, bush