nation

noun

ˈnā-shən How to pronounce nation (audio)
Definition of nationnext
1
as in state
a body of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government the American people became one nation when they adopted the Constitution in 1789

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in nationality
a people having a common language, culture, and body of traditions an international organization dedicated to upholding the basic human rights of people from all nations

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 nation But all of the conch on the menu is supposed to be imported from Caribbean nations. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 Both countries have floated the idea of a service fee for passage through the strait, but other Gulf nations have objected. — Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026 Between the mid-1940s and the construction of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s, our nation embarked on one of the greatest building programs in modern history. — Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The West African nation, which was expected to receive 20 deportees, received nationals mostly from Latin America, including Venezuela, Cuba and Colombia, Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah told Reuters. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nation
  1. state
  2. nationality
  3. country
  4. ethnicity
  5. commonwealth
  6. minority
  7. family
  8. race
Noun
  • The outcome of this bellwether case is expected to significantly influence whether other states pursue similar legal actions against AI companies.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is once again seeking to overturn his state murder conviction in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
    — Riley Moser, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of state
Noun
  • The restrictions apply to everyone regardless of religion or nationality.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Perhaps because the Venice Biennale remains one of the few bastions in the world defending freedom of expression, regardless of geographical origin or nationality.
    — John Bleasdale, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of nationality
Noun
  • Addressing thousands of officials and delegates at the Great Hall of the People, Xi portrayed China as a country that was facing tough times, but one that would emerge unscathed.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • However, no other peer country separates the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine as the president has now ordered.
    — Amanda Seitz, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • The doctor then draws a hairline that matches your age, ethnicity, and facial symmetry.
    — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The church’s origins date to the arrival of Christian missionaries in Mombasa in 1844, and its membership has long represented a diverse cross section of Kenyan society, with members of various ethnicities and social strata.
    — Stephanie TriplettAll, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of ethnicity
Noun
  • And that is our plan here in the commonwealth now with the strictest requirements in the entire country.
    — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Nine students, represented by their guardians, along with four nonprofit groups, have sued Massachusetts, saying the commonwealth had denied schoolchildren the right to an adequate education and to equal protection under the law.
    — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of commonwealth
Noun
  • Hegseth has aggressively moved to reshape the military's senior ranks, removing or sidelining more than two dozen senior officers, without explanation, including a number of women and minorities.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • There is also persistent friction between Arab and Kurdish communities in the northeast of the country, and the government has had to respond to pockets of violence against the religious Alawite minority along Syria’s coast.
    — Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of minority
Noun
  • Medicaid, the federal-state program that covers healthcare for low-income families, pays for at least 40% of births nationwide.
    — Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Roman said the question will be if the defense focuses on their own psychiatric experts right away, or Clancy's friends and family to humanize her to the jurors.
    — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of family
Noun
  • Some art experts have expressed concern that vibrations from the track construction and race itself could damage the artifacts inside.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Robinson, known for his defensive prowess, provides crucial insurance at Triple-A Gwinnett, addressing the team's need for experienced catching depth during a tight postseason race with a low-cost acquisition.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of race

Browse Nearby Words

nates
nation
national
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on nation

Nglish: Translation of nation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All