nation

noun

ˈnā-shən How to pronounce nation (audio)
Definition of nationnext
1
as in state
a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government the American people became one nation when they adopted the Constitution in 1789

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in nationality
a people having a common language, culture, and body of traditions an international organization dedicated to upholding the basic human rights of people from all nations

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 nation The current administration filed its latest tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which states the president can enact levies against other nations in response to their unfair trade practices, The New York Times reported. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 July 2026 The notion of zombies went back to that Caribbean nation’s days as a European colony, when huge numbers of largely African slaves were brutally disciplined and frequently worked to death by a white-settler minority. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 July 2026 The International Rescue Committee this year ranked Haiti fifth on its annual emergency watch list of nations at risk of humanitarian crisis. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 31 July 2026 These are stable and well-paying positions that, in this graying nation, will be around awhile. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for nation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nation
  1. state
  2. nationality
  3. country
  4. ethnicity
  5. commonwealth
  6. minority
  7. family
  8. race
Noun
  • On July 8, a federal judge in Manhattan denied Kalshi's bid to block New York's regulators, holding the state's gambling laws are not preempted as applied to sports contracts.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The city has long relied on tourists from neighboring states and countries with disposable income to spend freely.
    — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of state
Noun
  • At the center of the dispute was whether children automatically lost Italian citizenship when an Italian parent later acquired a foreign nationality while the children were still minors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • At the center of the dispute was whether children automatically lose Italian citizenship when an Italian parent acquires a foreign nationality while the children are minors.
    — Giada Zampano, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of nationality
Noun
  • The release came as calls are growing from other countries, including Myanmar's fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, for access to or engagement with Suu Kyi as part of efforts to resolve the country's political crisis.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • City and country converge at this Oklahoma City carriage house, which can sleep up to four guests.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • Music should be competing based on artistic excellence, not separated by geography or ethnicity.
    — Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
  • The Department of Homeland Security rejected the findings, saying immigration enforcement is based on legal status, not race or ethnicity.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Definition of ethnicity
Noun
  • According to the nonprofit Pennsylvania Head Start Association, the program serves more than 30,000 children in more than 800 classrooms and home visitation by nearly 10,000 staff in the commonwealth.
    — Lauren Linder, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The organization coordinated organ donations for nearly 7 million people, covering the entire commonwealth of Kentucky as well as counties in southern Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of commonwealth
Noun
  • Back in those early days there was talk of Newcastle winning the Premier League in the next five to 10 years, principally from the mouth of Amanda Staveley, a 10 per cent minority partner of PIF who sold her stake and left Tyneside in July 2024.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • That would give more games to minority co-hosts Argentina, Paraguay and inaugural 1930 World Cup host Uruguay, who currently are set to get just one game each of the 104.
    — Graham Dunbar, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of minority
Noun
  • People ‘in the middle’ While many are flocking to take advantage of an $8 burger, Alicia Roten’s family is simply trying not to eat out at all.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Officials are relying on reports from the families of victims and survivors in an attempt to determine the number of those missing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of family
Noun
  • Venture capital and investors more generally are eager to spend heavily in the latest technologies, especially with the AI race continuing to heat up.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Broward School Board at-Large Race In the nonpartisan race for the Broward School Board at-large seat, educator Sonja Azim and incumbent Allen Zeman outlined their platforms.
    — Joan Murray, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of race

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nates
nation
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Cite this Entry

“Nation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nation

Nglish: Translation of nation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nation

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