Detroit

Proper noun

Detroit

1. The largest city and former capital of Michigan, United States, a major port on the Detroit River, known as the traditional automotive center of the U.S. It is the county seat of Wayne County.
   • I’ll tell you what Detroit is. We’re a prideful people that love our city more than anything – even if we do, in many cases, make the difficult decision to leave the city for somewhere outside the boundaries.2017 October 5, Aaron Foley, “Why Detroit’s city storyteller wants to ban the word ‘gritty’”, in CNN, archived from the original on 01 Nov 2021
   • The Yemeni American, who had been living in the Dearborn and Detroit area for four years, was preparing dinner while her mother took Amirah’s seven-year-old daughter, Saida, to a nearby playground to play with her friends.2025 October 8, Stephen Starr, “‘I don’t feel safe any more’: Dearborn’s Arab Americans on rising Islamophobia”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 08 Oct 2025

   Synonyms:

   3-1-3, Arsenal of Democracy, D, The D, D-Town, Hockeytown, Motor City, Motown, Rock City

2. (metonymically) The United States' automotive industry.
   • 'Cause in the real world they're shutting Detroit down / While the boss man takes his bonus pay and jets on out of town.2009, John Anderson, John Rich, “Shuttin' Detroit Down”, performed by John Rich