homeland

noun

home·​land ˈhōm-ˌland How to pronounce homeland (audio)
 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The villages of the Kuskokwim Delta are the traditional homelands of generations of Yup'ik people. NPR, 17 Oct. 2025 To the thousands of Syrians who lost loved ones, or were tortured, imprisoned or displaced by the Assad regime, their homeland had become a crime scene from which the top suspects disappeared en masse. Danny Makki, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 Since the Indians already had abandoned their homelands for the new, nonexistent reservations, they were left landless. Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025 At an event held at the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora in Miami, representatives from several universities and civic institutions praised Machado’s courage, nonviolent leadership and steadfast commitment to restoring democracy in her homeland. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for homeland

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of homeland was circa 1627

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Cite this Entry

“Homeland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homeland. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

homeland

noun
home·​land ˈhōm-ˌland How to pronounce homeland (audio)
: native land : fatherland

More from Merriam-Webster on homeland

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