pierre

pierre — noun

1. a small city in the north-central United States that serves as the political and

1.nounB1
Definition

a small city in the north-central United States that serves as the political and administrative center of the state of South Dakota; it lies along the Missouri River near the geographic middle of the state and is one of the least populous state capitals in the country.

Example

Pierre is the capital of South Dakota, but Sioux Falls has a much larger population.

capital + state name: naming a US state capital

Christopher visited Pierre during his road trip across the northern United States last autumn.

Common collocations
  • capital of South Dakota
  • city of Pierre
  • in Pierre
  • near Pierre

Usage Note

As a place name, Pierre is always capitalised. Do not confuse this city with the French given name Pierre (pronounced /piˈɛər/), which also appears in English contexts as a first name.

Common Mistakes

Pierre is the capital of North Dakota.
Pierre is the capital of South Dakota.
Pierre is the seat of government for South Dakota, not North Dakota (whose capital is Bismarck).

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Pierre, Bismarck, Helena, Montpelier, and Juneau are all state capitals in the northern or mountainous parts of the United States, and all are relatively small. Pierre and Bismarck both lie on the Missouri River — Pierre is the capital of South Dakota, while Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota, roughly 300 miles north. Helena, the capital of Montana, is set in the Rocky Mountains and is about three times larger than Pierre. Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, is widely known as the smallest state capital by population in the US, with fewer than 8,000 residents. Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is unique because no roads connect it to the rest of North America — visitors must arrive by boat or plane. Learners often confuse which capital belongs to which northern plains state; Pierre belongs specifically to South Dakota.

BismarckHelena ↗MontpelierJuneau

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • capital of South Dakota
  • city of Pierre
  • state capital

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The city of Pierre was named after Pierre Chouteau Jr., a French-American businessman and fur trader who operated trading posts along the Missouri River in the early 1800s. His first name Pierre is the French word for 'stone,' which traces back through Old French to the Latin word 'petra,' meaning 'rock.'