A united state (6)

I believe the answer is:

oregon

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'state' is the definition.
(Oregon is an example)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for oregon that I've seen before include "US west-coast state" , "US NW coastal state" , "Portland's state" , "Salem is this State's capital" , "W. coast US state" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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