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
There is no doubt that some humans, societies, institutions and nation-states have driven far more change than others, and that the benefits and costs of change have been and are unevenly distributed.
—
Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
There are Israeli Jews (including West Bank settlers), who enjoy exclusive first-class citizenship in the Israeli state, as most recently enshrined in Israel’s 2018 nation-state law.
—Ziad Asali, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
While its digitization capabilities are far more robust than many nation-states, the Internet Archive’s position in an increasingly vituperative battleground between copyright holders and tech companies means that its future is precarious, too.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024
The March 22 Moscow massacre was designed, like all dramatic terrorist attacks, to raise ISKP’s profile not only among nation-states but also among the disaffected who might be considering ISIS as a violent alternative to life.
—Fatema Hosseini, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
However, the potential for sabotage, particularly by nation-states, is a growing concern.
—Robin Chataut, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024
For example, if the government is working on reverse-engineering technologies, those technologies are likely from advanced adversary nation-states like China, Russia, and Iran, and perhaps even quasi-allies like Israel that may be more limited in their technology-sharing with the US.
—Garrett M. Graff, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024
There is one fix that would help on all three fronts: an Israeli government prepared to begin the process of building two nation-states for two people with a Palestinian Authority that is truly ready and willing to transform itself.
—Thomas L. Friedman, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
In the universe of Dune, every noble house has a nuclear arsenal (since these great families have essentially taken the place of nation-states) but are forbidden from using them against each other.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2024
Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
There are Israeli Jews (including West Bank settlers), who enjoy exclusive first-class citizenship in the Israeli state, as most recently enshrined in Israel’s 2018 nation-state law.
—Ziad Asali, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
While its digitization capabilities are far more robust than many nation-states, the Internet Archive’s position in an increasingly vituperative battleground between copyright holders and tech companies means that its future is precarious, too.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024
The March 22 Moscow massacre was designed, like all dramatic terrorist attacks, to raise ISKP’s profile not only among nation-states but also among the disaffected who might be considering ISIS as a violent alternative to life.
—Fatema Hosseini, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
However, the potential for sabotage, particularly by nation-states, is a growing concern.
—Robin Chataut, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024
For example, if the government is working on reverse-engineering technologies, those technologies are likely from advanced adversary nation-states like China, Russia, and Iran, and perhaps even quasi-allies like Israel that may be more limited in their technology-sharing with the US.
—Garrett M. Graff, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024
There is one fix that would help on all three fronts: an Israeli government prepared to begin the process of building two nation-states for two people with a Palestinian Authority that is truly ready and willing to transform itself.
—Thomas L. Friedman, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024
In the universe of Dune, every noble house has a nuclear arsenal (since these great families have essentially taken the place of nation-states) but are forbidden from using them against each other.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nation-state.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near nation-state
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“Nation-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nation-state. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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