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 of homeland

• 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

After all, the two of them left their homeland in their thirties, crossed an ocean, and remade themselves in a country that promised opportunity at a steep cost. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026

The Hodsons are from the United Kingdom, and with rooms like Surrey, Devon, Cornwall, and Nottingham, there’s a clear through line to their homeland. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2026

In a country so small and intimately connected, scarcely anyone was untouched by events that shattered the assumptions of a people whose nation was founded to give Jews a safe haven in their ancestral homeland. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 26 Oct. 2026

The treaty affirmed the continued existence of Virginia’s Tribal Nations, acknowledged our relationship with the Crown and recognized our connection to our communities and homelands. — Dana Adkins, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026

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