country

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noun coun·try \ ˈkən-trē \

Definition of country

plural countries

1 :an indefinite usually extended expanse of land :region

miles of open country

2 a :the land of a person's birth, residence, or citizenship

left their country for America

b :a political state or nation or its territory

the country of Italy

3 a :the people of a state or district :populace

Most of the country voted to end the death penalty.

b :jury

c :electorate 2

The government will go to the country with this issue.

4 :rural as distinguished from urban areas

prefers the country to the city

5 :country music

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countryish

play \ˈkən-trē-ish\ adjective

See country defined for English-language learners

See country defined for kids

Examples of country in a Sentence

The two countries have a lot in common.
They drove across the country from California to New York.
They are living in different parts of the country.
The whole country was stunned by the news.
The President has the support of most of the country.
He moved to the north country to fish and hunt.
We went camping in the hill country.
They drove through miles of open country.
She lives out in the country.
They prefer the country to the city.

Recent Examples of country from the Web

The labor overhaul is the central pillar in Macron’s promises to create jobs and make his country more globally competitive after repeated failed efforts at reform.

— Washington Post, "French president faces biggest test yet over labor reform," 31 Aug. 2017
There’s no suggestion in Selva’s remarks that the technology gap facing North Korea is beyond reach given the country’s recent improvements in rocket technology.

— anthony capaccio, Bloomberg.com, "North Korean ICBM Technology Still Falls Short, Top General Says," 30 Aug. 2017
But MT could also be entering the environment through other routes, possibly in pollution that originates upstream in the country's capital, San José.

— mitch leslie, Science | AAAS, "Something is changing the sex of Costa Rican crocodiles," 30 Aug. 2017
The quantity of alcohol in Indian country increased dramatically after 1720 as the fur trade prospered.

— Longreads, "America’s First Addiction Epidemic," 29 Aug. 2017
By the time chop suey came started being written about, there were Chinese-American communities in many places in the country.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "Chop Suey: An American Classic," 29 Aug. 2017
The good news is that our other institutions — meaning press, finally, and judges and senators — have proven that the country works.

— oliver gettell, EW.com, "George Clooney rips Trump: 'In over his head' and 'incapable' of being president," 29 Aug. 2017
Freshman defensive back Gus Nave is from Scooba and senior wide receiver Quinton Lane is from Ackerman, though those towns are both more in Mississippi State country than Ole Miss. Freshman defensive back Devin Rockette played at Oxford High School.

— creg stephenson, AL.com, "Tim Bowens, Kane Wommack among several in South Alabama program with deep ties to Ole Miss," 28 Aug. 2017
Now, as white-power organizations declare their intentions to rally in cities around the country, police departments are looking to Charlottesville for hints on how to keep the peace -- and what mistakes to avoid.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "As White Nationalist in Charlottesville Fired, Police 'Never Moved'," 26 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'country.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The English word country is derived from Latin contra, which means “against” or “on the opposite side.” In Medieval Latin the noun contrata was formed from contra. Contrata was literally “that which is situated opposite the beholder.” But that which is opposite the beholder is just what he or she sees. So contrata meant “landscape.” It also came to mean “expanse of land, region.” This was the original meaning of English country, which over the years has itself developed a number of new meanings.

Origin and Etymology of country

Middle English contree, from Anglo-French cuntree, contré, from Medieval Latin contrata, from Latin contra against, on the opposite side

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

country Synonyms

Synonyms

fatherland, home, homeland, mother country, motherland, sod

Related Words

old country; community, neighborhood

Near Antonyms

conurbation, megalopolis, urban sprawl

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

country

adjective

Definition of country

1 :of, relating to, or characteristic of the country

country living

2 a :of or relating to a decorative style associated with life in the country

an English country look

; also :possessing a style of rustic simplicity

country furniture

b :prepared or processed with farm supplies and procedures

country ham

3 :of, relating to, suitable for, or featuring country music

country singers

See country defined for English-language learners

Examples of country in a Sentence

plain country living among unpretentious people

Origin and Etymology of country

see ¹country

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

country Synonyms

Synonyms

bucolic, rural, pastoral, rustic (also rustical)

Antonyms

urban

Related Words

backwoods, backwoodsy, countrified (also countryfied), provincial; agrarian, agricultural; nonurban, semirural

Near Antonyms

citified, urbanized; metro, metropolitan, municipal; nonagricultural, nonfarm

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

COUNTRY Defined for English Language Learners

country

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noun

Definition of country for English Language Learners

: an area of land that is controlled by its own government
the country : the people who live in a country
: an area or region that has a particular quality or feature or is known for a particular activity.

country

adjective

Definition of country for English Language Learners

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the country
: of or relating to country music

COUNTRY Defined for Kids

country

play

noun coun·try \ ˈkən-trē \

Definition of country for Students

plural countries

1 :a land lived in by a people with a common government

the countries of Europe

2 :region 1, district

good farming country

3 :open rural land away from big towns and cities

Take a ride in the country.

4 :the people of a nation

a whole country in revolt

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for country Spanish Central: Translation of country Nglish: Translation of country for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of country for Arabic speakers

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Definition of country

countryish

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Origin and Etymology of country

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Other Government and Politics Terms

country

Definition of country

Examples of country in a Sentence

Origin and Etymology of country

country Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Ecology Terms

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COUNTRY Defined for English Language Learners

country

Definition of country for English Language Learners

country

Definition of country for English Language Learners

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country

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