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

Its concept has drawn scorn from European partner nations and recent objection from some GOP members in Congress. —Kevin Fixler january 10, Idaho Statesman, 10 Jan. 2026

Illinois passed a first-in-the-nation law addressing this issue in 2024, and both red and blue states are exploring similar solutions. —Arkansas Online, 9 Jan. 2026

Long-term projections suggest demographic tipping points in major cities and even nations, altering cultural landscapes and potentially alliance dynamics. —Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026

Artists aren’t limited to what can be found locally in nature and might even use the flora and fauna of visiting nations as their starting point. —Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 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