mother country

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

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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 my mother country, all the tools of propaganda would keep painful truths at bay. Vadim Smyslov, WIRED, 21 Feb. 2024 Not all Americans thought British infringements warranted a severing of ties with the mother country, and after the Continental Congress declared independence, the struggle against Britain became a civil war among Americans, pitting Patriots against Loyalists. Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2021 Their sources of intelligence repeatedly assured British leaders that the great majority of the colonists remained loyal to the mother country. T.h. Breen, The New York Review of Books, 2 Feb. 2023 The skewers, simultaneously earthy and spicy, are served atop food-grade wax paper designed to mimic the newspaper on which suya is typically served in the mother country. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 3 Jan. 2023 See all Example Sentences for mother country 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mother country
Noun
  • This is the birthplace, after all, of the original independent bookstore destination, Powell’s City of Books.
    Amanda Calnan Vowels, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2025
  • The ocean is the birthplace of life on Earth, covering over 70% of our planet and sustaining an extraordinary range of biodiversity—from microscopic plankton to the largest whales.
    PhotoVogue, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Taking basic steps to help your heating system manage the challenges of extreme cold can keep your home comfortable and safe.
    Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
  • But the return home will likely be marked by more heartbreak.
    Abeer Salman, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • When Alcmene gave birth (by Zeus) to Hercules, Hera sent two snakes to kill him in his cradle, though the infant strangled them with his bare hands.
    Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2025
  • The Indonesian city is home to some of the greatest Hindu and Buddhist temples, a thriving food scene and an area known as the Cosmological Axis, a cradle of Javanese culture.
    Scott Mowbray Amrita Chandradas, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Comments The Voice has proved to be a massively successful format worldwide, allowing eager singers from dozens of countries to show off their vocal abilities.
    Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Reports from Canadian news outlets warn of a potential recession in the northern country if Trump’s 25% tariff on Canadian exports sustains, along with the retaliatory tariffs Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced would go into effect on Feb 4.
    Kate Linderman, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near mother country

Cite this Entry

“Mother country.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mother%20country. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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