mother country

Definition of mother countrynext
1
as in birthplace
a place of origin Greece can boast to being the mother country of democracy

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mother country
Noun
  • Those public courts on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Compton Boulevard unknowingly served as the birthplace of the greatest run in American tennis history.
    Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
  • Slater Mill served as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.
    Will Richmond, The Providence Journal, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Israel has struck sites in Beirut's suburbs and issued a blanket warning for residents south of the Litani River -- an area in southern Lebanon stretching to the border with Israel -- to evacuate their homes, but had not previously issued a blanket evacuation order for Beirut's southern suburbs.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The film was a commercial hit and solidified Universal Pictures’ reputation as the home of horror.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • North County is considered to be the cradle of skateboarding, which has grown from its rough around the edges beginnings into a billion dollar industry where icons like Tony Hawk have become global celebrities.
    Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
  • The integrated foam handles and foot cradles offer comfort and versatility.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But some Iranian Americans fear that their native country could descend into chaos, as Iraq did after the 2003 American invasion.
    Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
  • This issue will keep getting worse — and lost dollars will continue to grow — if our country’s leaders fail to implement smart policies to prevent scams.
    Letters to the Editor, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mother country.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mother%20country. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

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