STATE

(COUNTRY) [noun] [C] - a country or its governmentSome theatres receive a small amount of funding from the state/state funding.The drought is worst in the central African states.Britain is one of the member states of the European Union.After independence the country became a one-party state (= only the ruling political party was officially allowed).The government was determined to reduce the number of state-owned industries.(formal) His diary included comments on affairs/matters of state (= information about government activities).In Britain, the position of Home Secretary is one of the three most important offices of state (= positions in the government).A state is also a part of a large country with its own government, as in Germany, Australia or the US.The speed limit in America varies from state to state.Elections in the states will precede the national election by a month.(informal) The States is used to refer to the United States of America.