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nation-state

noun

Definition of nation-statenext
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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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-state The national conservatives embrace Christian nationalism and seek to bulwark the homogeneous nation-state from threats from liberalism. — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026 After they were replaced by oligarchs, along came nation-states and sovereign wealth funds. — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 The question of Kashmir has shaped the trajectories of India and Pakistan since the end of British rule and their birth as nation-states in August 1947. — Aqil Shah, Time, 17 Aug. 2026 Europe could revert to a collection of nation-states ruled by illiberal nationalist governments content to accommodate Civilizational America. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nation-state
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nation-state
  1. nation
  2. kingdom
  3. empire
  4. monarchy
Noun
  • The exact circumstances in each nation differ, but vaccination gaps are a common thread, leading some experts to question if more catastrophic measles outbreaks are around the corner.
    — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Yet at an event on Thursday, Huang displayed unwavering confidence, projecting that Nvidia's chip sales will double next year as nations and corporations continue scaling up AI investments.
    — , CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of nation
Noun
  • The native people of this region were not wiped out by smallpox and instead established an independent kingdom that blends a traditional monarchy with Catholicism, thanks to the efforts of some earlier missionaries.
    — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Earlier this month, drone attacks attributed by Saudi Arabia to Iraqi militias damaged the kingdom’s East-West pipeline, a key route for moving crude to the Red Sea and allowing Saudi oil exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of kingdom
Noun
  • The dominant language of the western half of the empire was Latin, with Greek predominating in the eastern parts of the empire.
    — Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Beauty in Black is a drama following Polidore’s Kimmie, a Chicago strip-club dancer, whose life becomes entangled with Mallory (Crystle Stewart), the powerful head of a hair-care empire.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of empire
Noun
  • The native people of this region were not wiped out by smallpox and instead established an independent kingdom that blends a traditional monarchy with Catholicism, thanks to the efforts of some earlier missionaries.
    — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The distinction Camilla was concerned about was between the private family and the public monarchy.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of monarchy

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Cite this Entry

“Nation-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation-state. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nation-state

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nation-state

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