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

Synonyms of homeland

• home
• country

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

Scott’s deputy, John Modlin, who had previously been the head of Border Patrol in Tucson, Arizona, was given seven days to decide whether to resign, retire, or relocate his family to Boston for an unrelated homeland security job. —Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 2026

Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, has become an evangelist of a certain sort. —Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026

The ceremony was opened by Iranian director Jafar Panahi, who spoke about the terrible bloodshed and oppression in his homeland, and the importance of speaking out. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 17 Jan. 2026

One has been restrained by state repression inside her homeland, the other sidelined by geopolitical currents outside it. —Jennifer Gould, Air Mail, 17 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for homeland

• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand
• hinterland
• motherland

Kids Definition

homeland

noun

home·​land ˈhōm-ˌland 

: native land : fatherland