mother country

Definition of mother countrynext
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

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 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 Still, many colonists had not seriously considered separating from the mother country—until a history-making pamphlet was published in the City of Brotherly Love on January 10, 1776. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mother country
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mother country
Noun
  • Philadelphia, the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence, will host a Red, White & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade on July 2, two new galleries at the National Constitution Center, an expansive exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a World Cup match on Independence Day.
    New York Times, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026
  • But, whether or not the Old Dominion is actually the birthplace of bourbon, Virginia is doing its best to make a name for itself today.
    Heather Bien, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • During their initial investigation, police found that two men approached the home's front door.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
  • These are the 2025 Bears, carrying their magic act into 2026 and starting their playoff story like this, with this kind of wild rally in front of a delirious and deserving home crowd.
    The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Since the program’s launch in 2022, more than 1 million newborns have been enrolled, representing an $89 million public investment in California’s commitment to cradle-to-career success.
    Fiona Ma, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The same technology’s feasibility should also be assessed under different climate zones, and full life cycle assessments (cradle-to-grave) of GS are a necessity for a better understanding of the technology’s merits and limits, researchers noted.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Hollywood couple Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors received Guinean citizenship after tracing their ancestry to the West African country through DNA testing.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Our country is built on immigrants.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 11 Jan. 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 12 Jan. 2026.

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