nation-state

noun

na·​tion-state ˈnā-shən-ˈstāt 

-ˌstāt

: a form of political organization under which a relatively homogeneous people inhabits a sovereign state

especially : a state containing one as opposed to several nationalities

Examples of nation-state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Excepting nation-state attacks, most of the headline zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in the wild have the spyware industry behind the scenes. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

This coalition was established in 2001 around the China-Russia axis to create cohesion and coordination among broadly congenial nation-states. —Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025

As this summer’s protesters understood, Ukraine is not only fighting for its future as a nation-state. —Nataliya Gumenyuk, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025

The house, in this case, is both the physical space where this confrontation takes place as well as the broader nation-state. —Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nation-state

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate