adj · name · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK, US:/ˌpɛn.sɪlˈveɪ.ni.ən/
UK, US:/ˌpɛn.sɪlˈveɪn.jən/
/ˌpɛn.səlˈveɪ.ni.ən/weak vowel merger
/ˌpɛn.səlˈveɪn.jən/weak vowel merger
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪniən
CMU ARPABET:P EH2 N S IH0 L V EY1 N IY0 AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or pertaining to the state of Pennsylvania.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Of any of the three geologic epochs (lower, middle and upper) within the Carboniferous period from 318 to 299 million years ago; marked by a high oxygen atmosphere and the rise of reptiles and winged insects.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
name
Meaning 3
Any of the three Pennsylvanian epochs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A native or resident of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States of America.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: American
5
noun
Meaning 5
a native or resident of Pennsylvania
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Keystone Stater
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: American
6
noun
Meaning 6
from 310 million to 280 million years ago; warm climate; swampy land
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Pennsylvanian period, Upper Carboniferous, Upper Carboniferous period
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: period, geological period
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English Penn English sylvan Latin -iader. English -ia English Pennsylvania English -an English Pennsylvanian From Pennsylvania + -an.
Across languages
Translations
13 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
pennsylvanialainen
— of or pertaining to Pennsylvania
Georgian:
პენსილვანიური
(ṗensilvaniuri)
— of or pertaining to Pennsylvania
German:
pennsylvanisch
— of or pertaining to Pennsylvania
Polish:
pensylwański
— of or pertaining to Pennsylvania
Russian:
пенсильванский
(pensilʹvanskij)
— of or pertaining to Pennsylvania
Finnish:
myöhäiskivihiilikautinen
— geology: of a Pennsylvanian epoch
Polish:
pensylwański
— geology: of a Pennsylvanian epoch
Finnish:
pennsylvanialainen
— resident of Pennsylvania
Georgian:
პენსილვანიელი
(ṗensilvanieli)
— resident of Pennsylvania