motherland

noun

moth·​er·​land ˈmə-t͟hər-ˌland How to pronounce motherland (audio)
1
2
: a country regarded as a place of origin (as of an idea or a movement)

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
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.
For our family, from the perspective of the motherland, a stronger China means we won't be bullied anymore. Reuters, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025 War in Russian is all about sacrifice for the motherland, the individual dying and achieving glory for the greater good. David Hambling, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025 Menu staples include spaetzle, goulash, schnitzel, and wurst platters, all of which can be paired with beer straight from the motherland. Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2025 In the second clip, Cottin and Amir Ebrahimi’s characters drive towards their next destination and share insights into their lives, with the latter discussing protecting family and motherland. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for motherland

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of motherland was in 1565

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Cite this Entry

“Motherland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motherland. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

motherland

noun
moth·​er·​land ˈmət͟h-ər-ˌland How to pronounce motherland (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on motherland

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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