A nation is an individual country considered together with its social and political structures.
Such policies would require unprecedented cooperation between nations.
...Nigeria, by far the most populous of African nations.
country
Synonyms: country, state, nation state, power More Synonyms of nation
2. singular noun
Thenation is sometimes used to refer to all the people who live in a particular country.
[journalism]
It was a story that touched the nation's heart.
Synonyms: public, people, community, society More Synonyms of nation
nation in British English
(ˈneɪʃən)
noun
1.
an aggregation of people or peoples of one or more cultures, races, etc, organized into a single state
the Australian nation
2.
a community of persons not constituting a state but bound by common descent, language, history, etc
the French-Canadian nation
3.
a.
a federation of tribes, esp of Native Americans
b.
the territory occupied by such a federation
Derived forms
nationhood (ˈnationˌhood)
noun
nationless (ˈnationless)
adjective
Word origin
C13: via Old French from Latin nātiō birth, tribe, from nascī to be born
Nation in American English
(ˈneɪʃən)
Carry (ˈkæri) (born Carry Amelia Moore) 1846-1911; U.S. temperance leader
nation in American English
(ˈneiʃən)
noun
1.
a large body of people, associated with a particular territory, that is sufficiently conscious of its unity to seek or to possess a government peculiarly its own
The president spoke to the nation about the new tax
2.
the territory or country itself
the nations of Central America
3.
a member tribe of an Native American confederation
4.
an aggregation of persons of the same ethnic family, often speaking the same language or cognate languages
Derived forms
nationhood
noun
nationless
adjective
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME ‹ L nātiōn- (s. of nātiō) birth, tribe, equiv. to nāt(us) (ptp. of nāscī to be born) + -iōn--ion]
COBUILD Collocations
nation
developing nations
divided nation
entire nation
eurozone nations
footballing nation
member nations
rich nation
the host nation
Examples of 'nation' in a sentence
nation
The collapse of the formal economy has made the country a nation of vendors.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They must now beat the host nation today to stand any chance of reaching the next stage.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The home nations are also annoyed that the new arrangements were made without any consultation.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The host nation also pays for hotels and flights.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It will secure our future as a trading nation and one of the best connected countries on earth.
The Sun (2016)
No doubt England are not too far off becoming the number one rugby league nation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
With them in my pocket the whole cultural and social history of the nation opens like a pop-up book.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We're the last European nation not to do this.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is no other way to depict a sportsman who has won the heart of the nation three times in four years via SPOTY.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Something special happened where we took a nation to our hearts and they took us to theirs.
The Sun (2012)
So why do we give our money away instead of looking after our own people and nation?
The Sun (2012)
Ministers have boasted that the figures show the country is a nation of entrepreneurs.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It made me aware of the power of sport to bring nations together.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The president is indifferent to the offence of the host nation.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Some individual nations emerged from early disputes with a forceful government ready to pursue vigorous policies.
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
This country is slowly changing from a nation of home owners to renters.
The Sun (2015)
We are now a nation with a history but no destiny.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is time the nation came together.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The host nation won a hockey game.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In the decades since independence profound changes have occurred in each of the individual nations.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
The nations meet again this month.
The Sun (2016)
To all the peoples and nations and languages, peace be multiplied to you.
Christianity Today (2000)
But one nation cannot stage both Euro finals in the same year.
The Sun (2009)
They swept the board in Beijing and won the hearts of a nation.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Does she not know the phrase has become a part of the nation's language?
The Sun (2011)
One Nation is about a country where there is genuine fairness.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It spoke for a team and a nation, but one passage in particular sounded like a commitment to change.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Nato commanders are looking for European nations to provide 10,000 extra soldiers for the vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Quotations
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdomBible: St. Matthew
No nation is fit to sit in judgement upon any other nationWoodrow Wilsonspeech
A nation is the same people living in the same placeJames JoyceUlysses
Nations, like men, have their infancyViscount Henry St. John BolingbrokeOn the Study of History
In other languages
nation
British English: nation /ˈneɪʃən/ NOUN
A nation is an individual country considered together with its social and political structures.
...several African nations.
American English: nation
Arabic: أُمَّةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: nação
Chinese: 国家
Croatian: nacija
Czech: národ
Danish: nation
Dutch: natie
European Spanish: nación
Finnish: kansakunta
French: nation
German: Nation
Greek: έθνος
Italian: nazione
Japanese: 国民
Korean: 국가
Norwegian: nasjon
Polish: naród
European Portuguese: nação
Romanian: națiune
Russian: народ
Latin American Spanish: nación
Swedish: nation
Thai: ประเทศ
Turkish: ulus
Ukrainian: народ
Vietnamese: quốc gia
Chinese translation of 'nation'
nation
(ˈneɪʃən)
n
(c) (= country) 国(國)家 (guójiā) (个(個), gè)
the nation (= people) 国(國)民 (guómín)
1 (noun)
Definition
a large body of people of one or more cultures or races, organized into a single state
Such policies would require unprecedented cooperation between nations.
Synonyms
country
the disputed boundary between the two countries
state
Mexico is a secular state.
nation state
power
land
The land I call my home
federation
commonwealth
kingdom
the Kingdom of Denmark
realm
Defence of the realm is crucial.
micronation
superpower
confederation
sovereign state
polity
2 (noun)
Definition
a large body of people of one or more cultures or races, organized into a single state
It was a story that touched the nation's heart.
Synonyms
public
The poll is a test of the public's confidence in the government.
people
community
He's well liked by the local community.
society
those responsible for destroying our society
population
a country with a population of 100 million people
populace
a large proportion of the populace
body politic
Quotations
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom [Bible: St. Matthew]No nation is fit to sit in judgement upon any other nation [Woodrow Wilson – speech]A nation is the same people living in the same place [James Joyce – Ulysses]Nations, like men, have their infancy [Viscount Henry St. John Bolingbroke – On the Study of History]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of community
Definition
the public
He's well liked by the local community.
Synonyms
society,
people,
public,
association,
population,
residents,
commonwealth,
general public,
populace,
body politic,
state,
company
in the sense of kingdom
Definition
a territory or state ruled by a king or queen
the Kingdom of Denmark
Synonyms
country,
state,
nation,
land,
division,
territory,
province,
empire,
commonwealth,
realm,
domain,
tract,
dominion,
sovereign state
in the sense of land
Definition
a country, region, or area
The land I call my home
Synonyms
country,
nation,
region,
state,
district,
territory,
province,
kingdom,
realm,
tract,
motherland,
fatherland,
l&
Synonyms of 'nation'
nation
Explore 'nation' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of populace
Definition
the common people
a large proportion of the populace
Synonyms
people,
crowd,
masses,
mob,
inhabitants,
general public,
multitude,
throng,
rabble (derogatory),
hoi polloi,
Joe Public (slang),
Joe Six-Pack (US, slang),
commonalty
in the sense of population
Definition
all the inhabitants of a place
a country with a population of 100 million people
Synonyms
inhabitants,
people,
community,
society,
residents,
natives,
folk,
occupants,
populace,
denizens,
citizenry
in the sense of realm
Definition
a kingdom
Defence of the realm is crucial.
Synonyms
kingdom,
state,
country,
empire,
monarchy,
land,
province,
domain,
dominion,
principality
in the sense of society
Definition
a group of people forming a single community with its own distinctive culture and institutions