nation-state
noun
na·tion-state
ˈnā-shən-ˈstāt 
-ˌstāt
: a form of political organization under which a relatively homogeneous people inhabits a sovereign state
especially
: a state containing one as opposed to several nationalities
Examples of nation-state in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The able-bodied white male stood for the virility of the New Deal nation-state.
—
John P. Murphy, ARTnews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for nation-state
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John P. Murphy, ARTnews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for nation-state
Cite this Entry
“Nation-state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nation-state. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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