mother country

1 a place of origin Greece can boast to being the mother country of democracy Synonyms cradle, home, birthplace, motherlandRelated Words hometown; Blighty [chiefly British], country, nativity, old country, roots

2 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 Synonyms fatherland, home, homeland, country, motherland, sodRelated Words old country; community, neighborhood