# birthplace

/ˈbɝθˌpɫeɪs/ (US) · /bˈɜːθpleɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/birthplace
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. location of birth

noun · CEFR B1

the town, city, or country where you were born.

For teachers: the specific geographical location where a person or animal was born.

- The famous writer's birthplace was a small cottage in the countryside.
- Although he spent his entire adult life in London, he often returned to his birthplace in rural Wales for inspiration.

Usage: Usually a countable noun; often used in official documents or biographies.

### 2. place of origin

noun · CEFR B2

the place where something important, like a new idea or a type of music, first began.

For teachers: the place where something was created, devised, or first emerged as a significant entity.

- New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz music.
- Historians often debate whether this ancient city was truly the birthplace of democracy or merely where it was first recorded.

Usage: Frequently used metaphorically with 'of' followed by a movement, invention, or concept.

## Examples

- Paris is my birthplace.
- She returned to her birthplace to visit her childhood home.
- Although he lived abroad for decades, he never forgot the narrow streets of his birthplace.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.