homeland

noun

home·​land ˈhōm-ˌland 

 also  -lənd

plural homelands

1

: the native land or country of one's parents, one's ancestors, or oneself

our ancestral homeland

hadn't seen their homeland since they were children

2

: a state or area designated as a state for a people of a particular national, cultural, or racial origin

They are fighting for an independent homeland.

the U.S. Department of Homeland Security [=a department in the U.S. government that is responsible for the safety of the U.S. and its citizens]

specifically, in South African history : any of several all-Black enclaves that had a limited degree of self-government : bantustan

Synonyms

• home
• country

Examples of homeland in a Sentence

He returned to his homeland for the first time in many years.

The rebels are fighting for an independent homeland.

Recent Examples on the Web

The National Museum of the American Indian recalls how Indigenous peoples suffered theft, loss of their homelands, enslavement, death, forced displacement and disrupted cultural traditions due to European settlement. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 12 Oct. 2025

The forthcoming 2025 National Defense Strategy is expected to emphasize the Western Hemisphere and homeland security, institutionalizing this shift. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

Follows four Armenian women fighting the erasure and ethnic cleansing of their homeland of Artsakh. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025

The Ponca Tribe is developing a Standing Bear Museum and cultural center in Niobrara, at the site of its traditional homelands and the film’s shooting location. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for homeland

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland

Kids Definition

homeland

noun

home·​land ˈhōm-ˌland 

: native land : fatherland