nation-state

noun

na·​tion-state ˈnā-shən-ˈstāt 

-ˌstāt

: a form of political organization under which a relatively homogeneous people inhabits a sovereign state

especially : a state containing one as opposed to several nationalities

Examples of nation-state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Historically, adversarial nation-states were largely considered the biggest cybersecurity threat to critical infrastructure. — Justine Calma, The Verge, 20 Sep. 2026

The argument for freedom of movement often involves a comparison to movement within a nation-state. — J. Toby Reiner, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

For the first 15 years thereafter, terrorism supplanted other threats such as those coming from nation-states (China, Iran, North Korea and Russia), and our country took our eye off of existential threats to our security. — John M. Weaver, Baltimore Sun, 10 Sep. 2026

More often than not, the home users have no idea that their connections are being used to facilitate crime and occasionally even nation-state attacks. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nation-state

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate