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
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
Former homeland security advisor for New York state Michael Balboni told Fox News Digital that assassinations have risen over the past decade and the targets are no longer limited to politicians.
—
Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025
But with few countries currently accepting visa applications from Haitians, the couple remains in limbo, trying to figure out their next move from a place that feels both like their homeland and a foreign land at the same time.
—Tania Francois, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
On Wednesday, the beauty queens competed in the national costume showcase, which saw contestants donning flamboyant outfits designed to highlight their homelands.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
The Valley overlaps geographically with the hippie homeland of San Francisco, Berkeley, and their environs, and there’s long been cross-pollination, if not orgiastic copulation, between the two spheres.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for homeland
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Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025
But with few countries currently accepting visa applications from Haitians, the couple remains in limbo, trying to figure out their next move from a place that feels both like their homeland and a foreign land at the same time.
—Tania Francois, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
On Wednesday, the beauty queens competed in the national costume showcase, which saw contestants donning flamboyant outfits designed to highlight their homelands.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
The Valley overlaps geographically with the hippie homeland of San Francisco, Berkeley, and their environs, and there’s long been cross-pollination, if not orgiastic copulation, between the two spheres.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for homeland
Cite this Entry
“Homeland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homeland. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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homeland
noun
home·land
ˈhōm-ˌland
: native land : fatherland
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