nation-states

noun

plural of nation-state
as in nations
a form of political organization in which a group of people who share the same history, traditions, or language live in a particular area under one government the rise of European nation-states in the thirteenth century

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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-states Historically, adversarial nation-states were largely considered the biggest cybersecurity threat to critical infrastructure. — Justine Calma, The Verge, 20 Sep. 2026 For the first 15 years thereafter, terrorism supplanted other threats such as those coming from nation-states (China, Iran, North Korea and Russia), and our country took our eye off of existential threats to our security. — John M. Weaver, Baltimore Sun, 10 Sep. 2026 After they were replaced by oligarchs, along came nation-states and sovereign wealth funds. — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 The question of Kashmir has shaped the trajectories of India and Pakistan since the end of British rule and their birth as nation-states in August 1947. — Aqil Shah, Time, 17 Aug. 2026 Europe could revert to a collection of nation-states ruled by illiberal nationalist governments content to accommodate Civilizational America. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Terrorists, criminal organizations, hostile nation-states, and sophisticated cybercriminals can now move money across borders with unprecedented speed using cryptocurrency. — Mitchell Silber, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026 In the world of Berle and Means, firms operated mostly within the boundaries of nation-states. — Mary Johnstone-Louis, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026 During that conflict, their ancestral homes were nation-states. — Ibrahim Al-Marashi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nation-states
  1. nations
  2. kingdoms
  3. monarchies
  4. empires
Noun
  • Gone are the four nations, corresponding to the elements, who coexisted in harmony that was disrupted and then, episode by episode, restored.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The Nordic nations have long prided themselves on low crime rates and high levels of social trust.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of nations
Noun
  • The agreement followed a long struggle between the Hittite and Egyptian kingdoms for control of territory in ancient Syria.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Like kingdoms of old, SaaS companies are sitting on treasure troves of data.
    — Srinivas Velamoor, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of kingdoms
Noun
  • Hovering in the background are the schemes and interests of a constellation of greater powers, including Gulf monarchies such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, as well as Turkey and Egypt.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Middle Eastern and North African Queen Names The Middle East and North Africa boast a rich history of powerful queens spanning ancient Egypt to modern-day monarchies.
    — Liz Regalia, Parents, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of monarchies
Noun
  • This latest group of founders stands on the shoulders of giants from the noughties like Spotify, Klarna, and Skype, who themselves took inspiration from the postwar design empires of IKEA, H&M and Tetra Pak (modernizer of the milk carton).
    — Jan Larsson, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Istanbul, city of empires The city now known as Istanbul has been at the heart of empires, from the Roman to the Byzantine to the Ottoman, and their legacies can be found throughout the Turkish metropolis.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of empires

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Cite this Entry

“Nation-states.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nation-states. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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