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
Best friends Fernando Delgado and Josh Lee are still riding the high of seeing both their homelands — Mexico and South Korea — win their opening matches at the 2026 World Cup.
—
Juliana Kim, NPR, 17 June 2026
Far away from his homeland, Vince—best known for Erasure, but also Yaz and Depeche Mode—is living in San Diego.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 17 June 2026
Founder Janet Yeung discovered the work of trailblazing Korean artist Seund Ja Rhee (이성자) who fled her homeland for Paris in the 1950s and created a distinct body of work grounded in cosmic balance and the tension between opposites.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 16 June 2026
With compassion and urgency, the film captures a New Orleans community’s determination to preserve its identity in the face of a disappearing homeland.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for homeland
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Juliana Kim, NPR, 17 June 2026
Far away from his homeland, Vince—best known for Erasure, but also Yaz and Depeche Mode—is living in San Diego.
—Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 17 June 2026
Founder Janet Yeung discovered the work of trailblazing Korean artist Seund Ja Rhee (이성자) who fled her homeland for Paris in the 1950s and created a distinct body of work grounded in cosmic balance and the tension between opposites.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 16 June 2026
With compassion and urgency, the film captures a New Orleans community’s determination to preserve its identity in the face of a disappearing homeland.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for homeland
Cite this Entry
“Homeland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homeland. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
homeland
noun
home·land
ˈhōm-ˌland
: native land : fatherland
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