motherland

noun

moth·​er·​land ˈmə-t͟hər-ˌland 

1

: mother country sense 1

2

: a country regarded as a place of origin (as of an idea or a movement)

Synonyms

• birthplace
• cradle

Examples of motherland in a Sentence

for many oenophiles, France remains the motherland of fine wines

all his life he longed to return to his motherland

Recent Examples on the Web

Its residents, who viewed the East African colony as a private pleasure ground without the laws of the motherland or obligations to the locals, became notorious for debauched parties, swinging orgies, and wild safaris. —Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025

Her taxi driver noticed the couple was American and compared the U.S. to his motherland, which is a dictatorship, Meehan said. —Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Denver Post, 12 June 2025

In fact, many young Chinese who study in the United States seem to enjoy American freedoms and seek to stay rather than return to serve the motherland. —Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 14 June 2025

Every community has its informal imports, lovingly swaddled in socks and ziplocks, and made to last until the next trip to the motherland. —Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 2 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for motherland

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

Kids Definition

motherland

noun

moth·​er·​land ˈmət͟h-ər-ˌland 

: fatherland