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

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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 Rubio warned that Russia’s war in Ukraine could widen into sabotage targeting NATO countries, turning a conflict between two nations into a broader regional crisis. — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 Then, after nearly two millennia in exile, a sovereign Jewish nation emerged again in 1948. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026 The end result is a sharp, unapologetic art-house novel full of gravitas, humor and heartbreaking revelations about the Black American experience and the thousand and one ways our nation can shatter Black souls. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 The dispute began in September when London announced sanctions — along with 11 other Western nations — targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank. — Dov Lieber, CBS News, 8 Oct. 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
  • For example, in 2023, commercial insurers paid more than $2,500 on average for colonoscopies performed in a hospital outpatient department in Massachusetts, according to state data.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Democrat senators oppose the Republican proposal that shifts some SNAP cost to states.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of state
Noun
  • As for concentrations of nationalities, one Atlanta ZIP code (30329) drew more than 1,300 Nicaraguans; Marietta was a popular draw for Brazilians, while Cubans settled in Moultrie, a south Georgia town near the Florida border.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The complaint does not state the nationalities of the other people on the boat.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of nationality
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
Definition of country
Noun
  • Born in Battambang, Ali, 52, is of mixed Malay, Khmer, Thai and Cham ethnicity, and was raised Muslim in a country that’s 96% Buddhist.
    — Siran Babayan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The report also omits any mention of LGBTQ+ youth and has fewer details based on race and ethnicity of students, note both Feuer and Hadland.
    — Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of ethnicity
Noun
  • Months later, in July 2025, Shapiro announced Amazon would invest $20 billion in an AI buildout in Pennsylvania, the largest capital investment in the commonwealth’s history.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Prosecutors for the commonwealth of Massachusetts must now decide whether to retry Clancy.
    — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of commonwealth
Noun
  • Some churches have rightly been accused of being partisan, hypocritical and discriminatory toward women and minorities.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Growth equity investors receive a minority interest in the company in exchange for their funding.
    — Frank Williamson, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of minority
Noun
  • The family described the teen as a fearless, curious and deeply imaginative young man with an ambitious spirit who inspired those around him.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Directed by Shen Chunyang and written by Ma Duo, the satirical family feature stars real-life comedic couple Shen Chunyang and Xiao Shenyang alongside Jia Bing and Yu Yang.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of family
Noun
  • The pair are engaged in a razor-thin race, according to polling, with just weeks to go until the general election.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Less than six weeks before Election Day, the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter shifted 15 House races toward Democrats and said the GOP was on track to lose its House majority.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of race

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nates
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Cite this Entry

“Nation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nation

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