statehood

noun

state·​hood ˈstāt-ˌhu̇d 

: the condition of being a state

especially : the status of being one of the states of the U.S.

Examples of statehood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Opposition to the war grew in Australia along with the Palestinian death toll, and last September the government angered Israeli leaders by supporting other like-minded Western nations, including Canada and the United Kingdom, by formally recognizing Palestinian statehood. —Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026

Beyond the calls for Palestinian statehood, the mere acceptance of Qatar and Turkey into the body is likely to amplify diplomatic outrage from Israel, which forcefully opposed the idea of allowing the two Muslim nations to have any role in Gaza reconstruction efforts. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 21 Jan. 2026

Prior to gaining statehood in 1792, Kentucky was known as Kentucky County in Virginia. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026

Kelly took the newspaper daily on Jan 10, 1888, two years before statehood. —Idaho Statesman, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for statehood

• adulthood
• babyhood
• brotherhood
• cottonwood
• fatherhood
• firewood
• fuelwood
• hardihood
• ironwood
• leatherwood
• likelihood
• livelihood

Kids Definition

statehood

noun

state·​hood ˈstāt-ˌhu̇d 

: the condition of being a state

especially : the condition or status of one of the states of the U.S.