motherland

noun

ˈmə-t͟hər-ˌland How to pronounce motherland (audio)
Definition of motherlandnext
1
as in birthplace
a place of origin for many oenophiles, France remains the motherland of fine wines

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in home
the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship all his life he longed to return to his motherland

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 motherland In China, many laud Gu for identifying herself as Chinese and competing for the honor of the motherland. — ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026 Doja Cat‘s South African homecoming may have been brought to a halt when Hey Neighbour festival canceled its 2025 staging, but the Grammy winner will finally get to visit her motherland this spring. — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026 Both the American and Philippine national anthems echoed as Filipino residents watched the flag of their motherland rise above San Jose City Hall, marking 128 years of independence from Spain on Friday, June 12. — Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 13 June 2026 In one, second-generation immigrant Gloria (Katy Correa) returns to her father’s home village in rural Guinea-Bissau for a traditional memorial ritual to mark the old man’s recent passing, and to introduce her twentysomething daughter Nour (D’Johé Kouadio) to her ancestral motherland. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for motherland
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motherland
  1. birthplace
  2. home
  3. cradle
  4. country
  5. homeland
Noun
  • Khamenei’s body will then be returned to Iran to be buried Thursday at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, his birthplace.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, Florence is the historic birthplace of the Renaissance.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of birthplace
Noun
  • Seigler slid headfirst into home and collided with Teel, who had dropped onto a knee slide of his own.
    — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 July 2026
  • Woodpeckers, owls and raptors are also out and about close to home, but might be harder to spot.
    — Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of home
Noun
  • Capital of Tuscany, cradle of the Renaissance, and one of Italy’s most popular destinations, Florence needs little introduction.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
  • On July 4, in addition to watching the fireworks, millions of Americans were watching France take on Paraguay in the cradle of independence, Philadelphia.
    — Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of cradle
Noun
  • Like previous host countries, Turkey is likely to use the summit to put its own security concerns and defense industry on the agenda.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • And, in a country struck by tragedy, this loss felt close to home.
    — Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of country
Noun
  • All share the position that state governments must act as foreign threats reach the American homeland.
    — Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
  • But regardless of the curfew, this community still plans on getting together and rallying behind their homeland.
    — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of homeland

Browse Nearby Words

mothering
motherland
motherlands
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Cite this Entry

“Motherland.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motherland. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on motherland

Nglish: Translation of motherland for Spanish Speakers

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