a state in the western US, on the Canadian border to the east of the Rocky Mountains; pop.967,440 (est. 2008); capital, Helena. Acquired from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, it became the 41st state of the US in 1889.

Montana², Joe (b.1956), American football player. He joined the San Francisco 49ers as quarterback in 1980 and played in four winning Super Bowls (1982; 1985; 1989; 1990).