mother country

Definition of mother countrynext
1
as in birthplace
a place of origin Greece can boast to being the mother country of democracy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in home
the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship even after decades of living in their adopted nation, they maintained a strong attachment to the mother country

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 mother country In effect, the mother country turned to its thriving colonies to pay the bill for its European wars. Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2026 This founding tenet of the Bel Paese now looks set to change — ending diaspora dreams of returning to the mother country, and meaning that Italians who move abroad risk denying citizenship to their descendants. Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026 The world premiere by Burlingame playwright Geetha Reddy starts off as an HR dispute about sexism at an aerospace company, only to tap into centuries-old resentments dating from Indian immigrant employees’ mother country. Theater Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Feb. 2026 Even so, Maduro’s ouster gave her a lot of hope for her mother country. Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mother country
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mother country
Noun
  • The district encompasses an increasingly Democratic-leaning Omaha metro area of 1 million-plus and its more conservative suburbs — famous for steaks and the Reuben sandwich’s birthplace, though New York disputes that.
    Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The district encompasses an increasingly Democratic-leaning Omaha metro area of 1 million-plus and its more conservative suburbs — famous for steaks and the Reuben sandwich's birthplace, though New York disputes that.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The other clock hiding inside it The TC001 has attracted an enthusiastic home-automation following because it can be used with AWTRIX, an open-source firmware and ecosystem designed around small LED matrix displays.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Back at school, Thom hangs out on the bleachers for a secret meeting with the creepy home invader from Robert’s party.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Civilizationists see Europe as both the historic cradle of Western civilization and the key source of its greatest threat, liberalism.
    Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, objects of cultural patrimony such as five pairs of moccasins, one coupstick, one Cheyenne cradle board and one lance were returned in the ceremony.
    News Desk, Artforum, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Some officials argue that would let Iceland keep control of its waters, since no EU country has fished there for decades.
    Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Economic impact of low birth rates Persistently low birth rates could threaten a country’s ability to sustain its economy.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mother country.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mother%20country. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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