as in nation
a form of political organization in which a group of people who share the same history, traditions, or language live in a particular area under one government
the rise of European nation-states in the thirteenth century
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Recent Examples of nation-state
Originating in English common law, jus soli serves as the basis for citizenship in nearly every nation-state in the Western Hemisphere.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
While these capabilities are intended to help companies detect and fix flaws, they could also be weaponized by hackers, including nation-states, to find and exploit vulnerabilities.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
The United States kicked out the Spanish, occupied Cuba and proclaimed its desire to turn Cuba into an independent, sovereign nation-state.
—Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nation-state
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
While these capabilities are intended to help companies detect and fix flaws, they could also be weaponized by hackers, including nation-states, to find and exploit vulnerabilities.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
The United States kicked out the Spanish, occupied Cuba and proclaimed its desire to turn Cuba into an independent, sovereign nation-state.
—Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nation-state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nation-state
Noun
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The forty-niners are elemental to our identity as a nation of brave, rugged individualists.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Authorities in the West African island nation have denied the MV Hondius permission to dock at the port of Praia as a precautionary measure, complicating efforts to evacuate sick passengers and provide urgent medical care.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Last month, Taiwan said China had forced three Indian Ocean countries to pull overflight permission for Lai's aircraft to travel to the small southern African kingdom of Eswatini for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
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Yura’s nemeses, who are part of her elderly father’s underwater court, seem to be after her magical flute, an ancient device that controls their kingdom’s dragon.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
1 May 2026
Noun
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In America, the lessons of Impressionism—which coincided in France with the end of an empire and the beginning of the enduring Third Republic—fell on receptive ground.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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When evil empires collide The latest supervillains in cahoots are Duke basketball and Amazon owner Jeff Bezos.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
France lurched from republic to dictatorship to empire before cycling back through absolute monarchy, constitutional monarchy, Second Republic, and Second Empire.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Prince Philip joined Meet The Press back in 1969 at a time when monarchies across Europe were in decline following World War II.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nation-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation-state. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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