mother country

noun

Synonyms of mother countrynext
1
: the country of one's parents or ancestors
also : fatherland
2
: the country from which the people of a colony or former colony derive their origin
3
: a country that is the origin of something
the mother country of golf

Synonyms of mother country

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Examples of mother country in a Sentence

Greece can boast to being the mother country of democracy. even after decades of living in their adopted nation, they maintained a strong attachment to the mother country
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Even so, Maduro’s ouster gave her a lot of hope for her mother country. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026 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 The Courant has reported, most colonists were not exactly mesmerized by the notion of severing ties with the mother country. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026 Rich in mood and gripping in narrative, the book starred a protagonist who stood at odds with his mother country and the political apparatus consuming it. — David Morgan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mother country

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mother country was in 1567

Rhymes for mother country

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Browse Nearby Words

mother cloves
mother country
mothercraft
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Cite this Entry

“Mother country.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mother%20country. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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