Meanings
plural Michiganders
- USA native or resident of the state of Michigan in the United States of America.
- humorousuncommonIn particular, a man from Michigan, contrasted with a Michigoose (“woman from Michigan”).
From Dale E. Pasco of Owosso: "My parents were both one room school teachers and they taught it this way: I'm a Michigander, my wife is a Michigoose, our kids are Michigoslins, so what is the use."
1982, Michigan Natural Resources Magazine, volumes 51-52, page 771 more example
Where is the little Michigander or Michigoose who is plugging along, so contentedly ensconced in his bi-valve surroundings as not to be touched by even an echo of the great state meeting of his profession?
1916, Moderator-topics, volume 36, page 165
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
] Attributed to Abraham Lincoln, in a speech of July 27, 1848, as pejorative reference to Lewis Cass, Michigan politician: : There is one entire article of the sort I have not discussed yet; I mean the military tale you Democrats are now engaged in dovetailing onto the great Michigander. Ostensibly coined as a blend of Michigan + gander (“male goose, simpleton”) (punning on “tale” and “(dove)tail(ing)”). Alternatively from and/or later reanalyzed as Michigan + -d- (epenthetic) + -er (“resident of”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish michiganilainen
- michiganilainenperson
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
Michigander. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michigander
“Michigander.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michigander. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Michigander,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michigander.
Source: Michigander on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.