motherland

noun

moth·er·land | \ ˈmə-t͟hər-ˌland

How to pronounce motherland (audio)

\

Definition of motherland

1 : mother country sense 1

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

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about motherland

Keep scrolling for more

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 After all, as there is no such thing as a choice of mother tongue, there is no such thing as a choice of motherland, or, for that matter, of a mother. — Sigrid Nunez, The New York Review of Books, "‘Lost, at Sea, at Odds’," 11 May 2021 Making motherland food not only helps Zauner cope but also deepens the connection to her Korean heritage with every homemade meal. — Jinnie Lee, Vogue, "Michelle Zauner on Her New Memoir, and the Joy of Korean Cooking," 19 Apr. 2021 Our meeting is serendipitous as Savage’s music has actually been a sounding guide, a hymnal of sorts, that subconsciously encouraged me to move across the Atlantic, from New York to the motherland. — Danielle Kwateng, Allure, "Tiwa Savage, the Queen of Afrobeats, Fights the Patriarchy," 16 Apr. 2021 Author Devesh Kapur estimates Indian America is nine times more educated than the motherland. — Sanjena Sathian, Time, "How the Pressure of the Model Minority Myth Restricts Our Imagination—and Our Freedom," 9 Apr. 2021 For months, the group, which includes writers and translators living in self-exile from Iran as well as others still living there, has sought ways to ensure its members’ voices are heard in the motherland. — Melissa Etehad, Los Angeles Times, "Banned books, forbidden topics: Some writers aim to smuggle what Iran censors," 5 Mar. 2021 Well, the Beacon Hill Times article did confirm the family’s connection to Spain — but as a summer destination, not a motherland. — Washington Post, "From an Instagram joke to an Alec Baldwin rant: The Hilaria Baldwin accent controversy, explained," 28 Dec. 2020 This happened in the motherland of modern democracy. — Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, "As US democracy stumbles, the world watches and wonders," 8 Jan. 2021 Shakespeare and Company remains the motherland to writers and book lovers alike, and the young man's movements reflected that. — Steve Straessle, Arkansas Online, "OPINION | STEVE STRAESSLE: Lost in books," 28 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'motherland.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about motherland

Dictionary Entries near motherland

mother-in-law apartment

mother-in-law plant

Statistics for motherland

Last Updated

15 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Motherland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motherland. Accessed 16 May. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for motherland

motherland

noun

English Language Learners Definition of motherland

: the country where you were born or where your family came from

See the full definition for motherland in the English Language Learners Dictionary

Comments on motherland

What made you want to look up motherland? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

magnum opus

Listen to the pronunciation of magnum opus

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Choose the best definition or synonym for the word in bold: "There are some eructations that sound like cheers—at least, mine did." Lolita

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ