country

noun

coun·try | \ ˈkən-trē

plural countries

Definition of country

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an indefinite usually extended expanse of land : region miles of open country

2a : 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

3a : the people of a state or district : populace Most of the country voted to end the death penalty.

b : jury

c : electorate sense 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

6 geology : country rock sense 2

country

adjective

Definition of country (Entry 2 of 2)

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

2a : 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

Other Words from country Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about country

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Synonyms & Antonyms for country

Synonyms: Noun

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

Synonyms: Adjective

bucolic, pastoral, rural, rustic (also rustical)

Antonyms: Adjective

urban

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.

Examples of country in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Adjective

plain country living among unpretentious people

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

But the aggregate numbers make the decrease in access to the real estate market seem gradual, albeit troubling, and underplay the spikiness of the country. — Alexis C. Madrigal, The Atlantic, "Why Housing Policy Feels Like Generational Warfare," 13 June 2019 An African Union envoy is in Sudan to mediate the crisis as leaders of the country’s protest movement accuse the ruling military of pursuing a brutal crackdown on protesters. — Washington Post, "AU envoy mediates Sudan crisis as protesters slam military," 13 June 2019 Located a few miles away from the National Mall, the campus offers easy access to world-class museums and some of the country’s most famous historical sites. — National Geographic, "Journalism and Multimedia High School Workshop at Nat Geo in Washington, D.C.," 12 June 2019 Today, George Washington has been conscripted into the culture wars over the religious underpinnings of this country. — Sam Wineburg, Smithsonian, "What George Washington’s Views on Religion and America Don’t Translate Well to Today’s Politics," 12 June 2019 Tawil, of the local Chabad-Lubavitch organization, was attacked by three men in the city center of Rosario, located in the center of the country. — Jta Staff, sun-sentinel.com, "Officials alarmed by anti-Semitic assaults in Argentina," 12 June 2019 That year, as outbreaks of measles and whooping cough began to rise in pockets of Texas and other parts of the country, state Rep. Jason Villalbafiled a bill hoping to remove the conscientious exemption option from state law. — Elizabeth Byrne, Shiying Cheng, Houston Chronicle, "Texas vaccine exemption rates have reached an all-time high. Did Texas make it too easy for parents," 12 June 2019 The provinces sit on the eastern side of the country, bordering South Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Massive Ebola outbreak spreads across DRC border, infected 5-year-old in Uganda," 11 June 2019 This isn’t the first time in our history that a significant faction of the country has justified perpetrating a grave moral evil against the human person for the sake of economic gains. — Alexandra Desanctis, National Review, "Corporations Are People, Unborn Children Aren’t," 11 June 2019

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.