motherland

noun

moth·​er·​land ˈmə-t͟hər-ˌland How to pronounce motherland (audio)
1
2
: a country regarded as a place of origin (as of an idea or a movement)

Examples of motherland in a Sentence

for many oenophiles, France remains the motherland of fine wines all his life he longed to return to his motherland
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
We are made in the water, birthed from a pregnant motherland each time her water point breaks. Outside Online, 5 Mar. 2025 So come find me where motherland meets Mother Sea, let this tide carry us home, on wood, polyurethane, and soft top foam. Outside Online, 5 Mar. 2025 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine seems to have been motivated in part by Vladimir Putin’s desire to increase the motherland’s quantity of ethnic Russians. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025 The film issues a blanket call to action across its generous runtime, essentially urging frustrated and aggrieved Chinese citizens to return home to the welcoming embrace of the motherland. James Marsh, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for motherland

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of motherland was in 1565

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Motherland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motherland. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

motherland

noun
moth·​er·​land ˈmət͟h-ər-ˌland How to pronounce motherland (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on motherland

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