1
as in birthplace
a place of origin
Greece can boast to being the mother country of democracy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in home
the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship
even after decades of living in their adopted nation, they maintained a strong attachment to the mother country
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mother country
Diplomatically, Canada balanced between its mother country, the United Kingdom, and its southern neighbor, the emerging superpower.
—
Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Since the condition of the Royal Navy was of prime importance to the British Parliament, during the colonial era that body passed several acts that sought to entice or compel colonists in British North America to produce naval stores for the benefit of the mother country.
—Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
Reread Jefferson’s words in the Declaration of all the rights that King George III had denied his American subjects and forced them to break from the mother country.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
Veins branching along my skin like the waterways of my mother country.
—Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mother country
Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Since the condition of the Royal Navy was of prime importance to the British Parliament, during the colonial era that body passed several acts that sought to entice or compel colonists in British North America to produce naval stores for the benefit of the mother country.
—Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
Reread Jefferson’s words in the Declaration of all the rights that King George III had denied his American subjects and forced them to break from the mother country.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
Veins branching along my skin like the waterways of my mother country.
—Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mother country
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mother country
Noun
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Reflecting those sentiments, last Sunday, Pheu Thai failed to win any seats in the northern city of Chiang Mai, Thaksin’s birthplace and the Shinawatra heartland.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Often considered the birthplace of the city, the park sits on land reclaimed in the 1960s from former textile mills, transforming an industrial corridor into one of Greenville’s most beloved—and beautiful—public spaces.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Google, which owns the smart home system Nest, is now assisting law enforcement in that investigation.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
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In Spain's southern Andalusia region, close to 4,000 people evacuated their homes as a result of the ongoing storm, and dozens of roads remained closed because of flooding and landslides.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Lamu, Kenya Sitting in the Indian Ocean to the northeast of the Kenyan mainland, Lamu is one of the cradles of Swahili culture.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
15 Feb. 2026
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In other words, while the Democratic brand continued to flatline, the autopsy itself was declared dead in the cradle—this despite DNC officials having conducted more than 300 interviews and Martin having previously called the autopsy a crucial exercise.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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According to internal administration documents reviewed by The Associated Press, there are 47 third-country agreements at various stages of negotiation.—
STEPHEN GROVES,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Indeed, each of these three countries have sought to offer support to Cuba in recent days.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mother country.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mother%20country. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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