nation

noun

na·​tion ˈnā-shən 

plural nations

1

a(1)

: nationality sense 2b

… [three Slav peoples] … forged into a Yugoslavia without really fusing into a Yugoslav nation.

—Hans Kohn

(2)

: a politically organized nationality

(3)

in the Bible : a non-Jewish nationality

Why do the nations conspire … ?

—Psalms 2:1 (Revised Standard Version)

b

: a community of people composed of one or more nationalities and possessing a more or less defined territory and government

Canada is a nation with a written constitution …

—B. K. Sandwell

c

: a territorial division containing a body of people of one or more nationalities and usually characterized by relatively large size and independent status

… a nation of vast size with a small population …

—Mary K. Hammond

2

archaic : group, aggregation

3

: a tribe or federation of tribes (as of Indigenous peoples)

a member of the Cherokee Nation

the Seminole Nation in Oklahoma

Synonyms of nation

• state
• country
• commonwealth

Examples of nation in a Sentence

It's one of the richest nations in the world.

the largest state in the nation

The President will speak to the nation tonight.

The entire nation is celebrating the victory.

Recent Examples on the Web

Until then, Jude had never read Bram Stoker’s novel, which was suppressed during the Communist era, its supernatural themes being out of alignment with Romania’s view of itself as a modern industrial nation. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

Long before Christianity spread across Europe, Armenia quietly became the first nation to adopt it in 301 AD. —Marlise Kast-Myers, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026

Asian nations are scrambling to conserve energy and bolster dwindling reserves. —ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026

Regulators and former employees call it one of the most notorious chameleon schemes — a ticking time bomb on our nation's roadways. —Ashley Velie, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nacioun, from Anglo-French naciun, from Latin nation-, natio birth, race, nation, from nasci to be born; akin to Latin gignere to beget — more at kin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing nation

• nation-state
• the nation

Rhymes for nation

• cation
• dation
• haitian
• lation
• station
• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation

Kids Definition

nation

noun

na·​tion ˈnā-shən 

1

: nationality sense 3

2

: a community of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government

3

: the territory of a nation

Biographical Definition

Nation

biographical name

Na·​tion ˈnā-shən 

Car*ry ˈker-ē 

ˈka-rē

Amelia 1846–1911 née Moore American temperance agitator