The Tri-State Region is commonly used in the area surrounding New York City to unambiguously refer to the greater metropolitan area. Sometimes the phrase is shortened to "the Tri-State," or "the Tri-State Area" is used instead. The term is especially favored in advertising and the broadcast news media, but is used in common speech as well.

Roughly speaking, the New York Tri-State area encompasses the populated areas in the states of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut (hence the term "tri-state") that are within a typical commuting distance of Manhattan, either by car or rail, or alternatively, the coverage area of the broadcast television stations that operate from Manhattan.