# Laurentia

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /lɑˈɹɛn.ʃə/

## Definitions
1. The craton that forms the geological core of North America, and that was a separate continent in the past (before merging into Laurasia).
2. Canada.

## Etymology
A New Latin formation named after the Saint Lawrence River: Laurentius (“Lawrence”) + -ia (New Latin suffix for creating place names). Or, back-formed from Laurentian (from French laurentien), already in use to describe the Laurentian Mountains and their associated geologic complex (and by extension Canada as a whole).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/laurentia