old country

noun

variants often Old Country
Synonyms of old countrynext
: an emigrant's country of origin
especially : one in Europe
usually used with the

Word History

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of old country was in 1751

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Old country.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old%20country. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

old country

noun
: the country that a person has emigrated from

More from Merriam-Webster on old country

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster