motherland
- 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 used to express deep emotional or nationalistic attachment.
Simple“After living abroad for twenty years, he finally returned to his motherland.”
In context“The poet wrote extensively about the rolling hills and ancient traditions of his motherland, reflecting a deep sense of cultural belonging.”
UsageUsually used with a possessive pronoun like 'my' or 'their'.
Teacher's tipWhile 'homeland' is more neutral, 'motherland' often implies a protective or nurturing emotional bond; note that some cultures prefer 'fatherland'.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
a country that has colonies in other parts of the world.
the country of origin of a group of settlers or the dominant power in a colonial relationship.
Simple“The settlers maintained the legal traditions they had brought from the motherland.”
In context“Economic policies were often dictated by the motherland, sometimes to the detriment of the local colonial population's interests.”
UsageOften used in historical or political contexts regarding empires.
Teacher's tipIn modern academic writing, 'metropole' or 'mother country' is sometimes preferred to avoid the gendered personification of the state.
Synonymsmetropolemother countryAntonyms
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr Proto-Germanic *mōdēr Proto-West Germanic *mōder Old English mōdor Middle English moder English mother English land English motherland From mother + land.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.