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
  • Located in Oakbrook Center, the new space pays homage to the couturier-perfumer’s birthplace with a fragrance discovery experience that’s anchored by a selection of one-of-a-kind olfactory silhouettes named La Collection Privée Christian Dior.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Almost no filming happens here in California, which is the birthplace of the business.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • On August 1, 2025, the day after the lease lapsed, Cathy and Salvatore sued for possession of their home in Manhattan housing court.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Carter is licking his wounds after the rest of the tribe sent Ana home in a blindside.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • According to tradition, the day after she was baptized, her cradle was surrounded by a mysterious swarm of white bees, which entered her mouth, but didn't harm her or even wake her up.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This ecosystem has been the cradle of many major innovative high-tech companies, as well as those sparking innovation and growth in other sectors.
    — Andrew McAfee, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • These countries will face the costs of aging at much lower income levels than the advanced economies that aged before them, the report says, noting that in Europe, the same shift took several decades.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Some Southeast Asian countries are trying to leverage their strengths to capture more of the value chain.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 5 Oct. 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 10 Oct. 2026.

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