Definition of motherlandnext
1
as in birthplace
a place of origin for many oenophiles, France remains the motherland of fine wines

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2
as in home
the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship all his life he longed to return to his motherland

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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 motherland Fitzgerald, who hopes she may still be recognized after the Constitutional Court hearing, has been studying Italian for three years and can relate to feeling a link to the motherland. Terry Ward 22 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026 Fatherland implied heritage and tradition, while motherland suggests place of birth and sense of belonging. Melinda Laituri, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026 Despite a 1689 treaty that placed the Sino-Russian boundary some seven hundred kilometers north of the Amur River, the unequal treaties of 1858 and 1860 drew the Russians right to the Amur and Ussuri Rivers, the edge of the Qing motherland. Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025 Irie Nights invites the city out to dance, eat, and enjoy the best sounds from the islands to the motherland. Marcus Smith, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for motherland
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motherland
Noun
  • Montijo said in the late 1980's, there was a petition to make this the hometown of the superhero team and that Stan Lee was invited to the city, went to Al's Comics with Spiderman and signed autographs, then went to city hall to make Stockton the official birthplace of the Fantastic Four.
    Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
  • This Mediterranean jewel—shaped by ancient mythology and the birthplace of democracy—is counted among the top destinations to visit in the world for countless reasons, from its complex history and distinct culture to its natural beauty and traditional fresh cuisine.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Other states across the southern half of the United States also tended to lose home equity.
    Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Some of Hadi’s friends have had their homes raided; others have been detained, or have gone missing.
    Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Cellphone mounts or cradles allow people to access their mobile devices at all times.
    Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Gender, above all, determines how life is supposed to proceed, from cradle to grave; one of her longest digressions is an overview of the different ways that, to her mind, men and women are supposed to die.
    Isle McElroy, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defense council, visited the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan in the past week and said the drone defenses were deployed in those countries.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
  • In a telephone interview with Kyodo News on Friday, Araghchi denied closing the passageway, insisting instead that countries attacking Iran face restrictions, while others were being offered assistance.
    CBS News, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The Yankees’ utilityman, born in the Venezuelan city of Guarenas, said his mom was responsible for filming the gathering, especially the Cabreras’ reaction to the final out of a 3-2 win for his homeland.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Kantemir Balagov’s Butterfly Jam Kantemir Balagov’s English-language debut marks a bold pivot for the Russian auteur, who left his homeland following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pledging never to return so long as Putin remains in power.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Motherland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motherland. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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