lower 48

English

Etymology

From lower +‎ 48 (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Proper noun

the lower 48

1. (US, geography) The contiguous continental states area of the United States, comprising 48 states in number, and the District of Columbia, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
   • 2022 April 27, John Kemp, “Column: Global consumers balk at surging prices for durable goods”, in Mark Potter, editor, Reuters‎^[1], archived from the original on 16 May 2022, Commodities:

     Every month, the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Centre conducts a telephone poll of at least 500 households selected to be broadly representative of the Lower 48 states.

Synonyms

• (area of the United States):, contiguous 48, contiguous United States, continental United States, continental US, CONUS

Translations

United States excluding Alaska, Hawaii and other overseas territories