homeland
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the country where you were born or where your family comes from.
the country of one's birth or ancestry, often regarded with emotional or patriotic attachment.
Simple“After living abroad for twenty years, he finally returned to his homeland.”
In context“The poet wrote extensively about the rolling hills of his homeland, expressing a deep nostalgia for the landscape of his youth.”
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the traditional land where a specific group of people has lived for a long time.
the traditional or ancestral territory of a specific ethnic group, tribe, or cultural community.
Simple“The tribe fought to protect their ancient homeland from developers.”
In context“The treaty recognised the region as the sovereign homeland of the indigenous population, granting them autonomy over local resources.”
Synonymsterritoryancestral land - 03 C2 Proficiency
an area in South Africa where Black people were forced to live during the time of Apartheid.
a territory set aside for Black South Africans under the historical policy of apartheid.
Simple“During the Apartheid era, many families were forced to move to designated homelands.”
In context“The creation of these homelands was a central pillar of the government's strategy to enforce racial segregation and deny citizenship to the majority.”
UsageUsually used in a historical context when discussing 20th-century South African politics.
Teacher's tipThis sense is historically specific and carries a negative political weight; it should not be confused with the general meaning of 'native country'.
Synonymsbantustan
“After a period in youth coaching, Pocognoli enjoyed a successful time in charge of Union Saint-Gilloise in his homeland.”
“A new gallery show in London features the paintings of Marc Padeu, playing with themes from Renaissance art and bringing them to his homeland of Cameroon.”
From home + land.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.