What does manhattan mean?
Manhattan most commonly denotes the borough and island at the center of New York City. Its boundaries are marked largely by the Hudson River, the East River, the Harlem River, and the waters of Upper New York Bay. The borough contains major financial, commercial, cultural, and residential districts, including Midtown, the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, the Financial District, and Greenwich Village. The name also refers to a well-known cocktail traditionally made with rye or bourbon whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Although Manhattan covers less land than the city's other boroughs, it is the most densely populated. In general usage, the geographic meaning dominates, so the place name is usually capitalized and treated as a singular proper noun. The cocktail meaning is also standard and appears in phrases such as a perfect Manhattan or Manhattan cocktail.
A borough and island forming the central part of New York City, New York, United States.
"She studied art in Manhattan before moving to Brooklyn."
Normally capitalized and treated as a singular proper noun. Lower Manhattan and Upper Manhattan refer to distinct sections of the borough.
A cocktail made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
"The bar serves a Manhattan with an orange twist."
Usually capitalized when naming the cocktail. It is commonly used with the definite article, as in a Manhattan.
Not normally used for the borough or island. The plural can occur informally for people or things associated with Manhattan, but residents are ordinarily called Manhattanites.
"The two Manhattans have very different neighborhoods and histories."
Manhattan is New York City's smallest borough by land area, yet it is its most densely populated borough.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does manhattan come from?
The English place name Manhattan was adopted during the Dutch colonial period, when New Amsterdam was the principal settlement on the island. The more distant source of the island's name is disputed, and several proposed Lenape origins have been advanced without complete agreement. In English, the place name and the cocktail name came to share a spelling, but they do not share a historical linguistic derivation.
How manhattan is actually used
The place name and the cocktail name are normally capitalized. As a geographic name, Manhattan generally takes no plural in ordinary usage; as a cocktail, it is commonly used in the definite article when referring to a particular drink.
Easily confused with manhattan
Manhattan is a borough of New York City, whereas Manhattan Beach is a separate city in Los Angeles County.
Manhattan is the central borough of New York City, while Manhattanville is a neighborhood at the northern end of that borough.