1. people who settled in Oklahoma before the official opening of the territory in 1889, violating federal law
Usage: historical; American
2. nickname for residents of Oklahoma or students and athletes of the University of Oklahoma
Usage: informal; American

Examples

• The sooners illegally claimed land before the official Land Rush began.
• Many sooners hid in the territory overnight to get the best plots.
• Oklahoma became known as the Sooner State because of these early settlers.
• The Oklahoma Sooners won the football championship.
• As native sooners, they knew the state’s history well.
• The sooners faced penalties for their premature settlement.
• University of Oklahoma sooners have a proud athletic tradition.