motherland

noun

ˈmə-t͟hər-ˌland How to pronounce motherland (audio)
Definition of motherlandnext
1
as in birthplace
a place of origin for many oenophiles, France remains the motherland of fine wines

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in home
the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship all his life he longed to return to his motherland

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 motherland In China, many laud Gu for identifying herself as Chinese and competing for the honor of the motherland. — ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026 This isn’t the first time that food from the motherland has had me in a chokehold. — Andre James, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026 In one, second-generation immigrant Gloria (Katy Correa) returns to her father’s home village in rural Guinea-Bissau for a traditional memorial ritual to mark the old man’s recent passing, and to introduce her twentysomething daughter Nour (D’Johé Kouadio) to her ancestral motherland. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026 Doja Cat‘s South African homecoming may have been brought to a halt when Hey Neighbour festival canceled its 2025 staging, but the Grammy winner will finally get to visit her motherland this spring. — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for motherland
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motherland
  1. birthplace
  2. home
  3. cradle
  4. country
  5. homeland
Noun
  • Already something of a local celebrity after setting a state record for cookie sales, Olive found out about the opportunity while in Savannah, touring the birthplace of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, is a two-hour trip from London and a number of ticket-holders expressed their disappointment online, alleging to have arrived from as far afield as Canada.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 29 July 2026
Definition of birthplace
Noun
  • In 2022, when the bank started requiring employees to return to the office as COVID-era restrictions eased, Arbuckle requested to continue working from home instead of commuting to uptown Charlotte.
    — Chase Jordan July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • According to Chinese media, some regions like China’s eastern Shandong province have received government support to boost manufacturing of cooling products and other home appliances this year.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Definition of home
Noun
  • Vigeland Museum describes the work as a summary of the park’s journey from cradle to grave, encompassing joy, sorrow, hope and longing.
    — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Does the documentary go through your entire life, cradle to now?
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026
Definition of cradle
Noun
  • Grammy Award-winning hip-hop and country artist Shaboozey made his Comic-Con debut with his graphic novel, The Outlaw Cherie Lee, out August 18.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • No one bill was ever going to solve every affordability challenge facing this country.
    — Kent Strang, Boston Herald, 26 July 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • Collaborations with Cuban piano stars such as Chucho Valdés and Roberto Fonseca followed, but Cañizares’s musical reach extends far beyond her homeland.
    — Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
  • Maher has spent decades as an increasingly acidic monitor of his homeland’s hysterical politics on his HBO show, Real Time.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 23 July 2026
Definition of homeland

Browse Nearby Words

mothering
motherland
motherlands
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Cite this Entry

“Motherland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motherland. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on motherland

Nglish: Translation of motherland for Spanish Speakers

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