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

• country
• fatherland
• home
• mother country
• motherland
• sod

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

But Machold insists that homeland security also became a bundle of assumptions and methods that could be exported. —Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

Vatican Pool/Getty Images Argentina's president sent profound condolences to the family of Pope Francis and to all Catholics in a message posted to X from the pontiff's homeland. —Carrie Kahn, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025

Many Vietnamese overseas now come back to their homeland for a visit. —Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025

Their homeland in the hills of the North Island isolated them from British settlers. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025

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