Crossword Genius

Figure backing East German city state (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tennessee

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

'figure backing east german city' is the wordplay.
'figure' becomes 'ten' (I've seen this in other clues**).
'backing' is a reversal indicator.
'east' becomes 'e' ('E' can be a synonym of 'east').
'german city' becomes 'essen' (I've seen this before).
'e'+'essen'='eessen'
'eessen' reversed gives 'nessee'.
'ten'+'nessee'='TENNESSEE'

(Other definitions for tennessee that I've seen before include "Memphis's state" , "State of south-east US" , "Teen sense observed in American state" , "Nashville's state" , "playwright's assumed first name" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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