America
/əˈmɛrɪkə/noun
The name of the continents of the Western Hemisphere, and by extension the United States.
Did you know?The name was popularized in 1507 when a mapmaker honored Amerigo Vespucci, and the feminine form was chosen because Latinized place-names often took feminine endings.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Amērigo
“A Latinized form of the Italian personal name Amerigo, ultimately from Germanic roots meaning 'work' and 'strength' or 'power'.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
America
“A feminine Latinized name created for the new lands shown on maps.”
1507
Latin
America
“Used by Martin Waldseemüller on a world map to label the newly described lands across the Atlantic.”
16th Century
French
Amérique
“The continental name spread through European languages.”
Modern English
English
America
“The standard English name for the continents and, especially in common usage, the United States.”