ENGLISH
REFERENCE

motherland

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈməðɝˌɫænd// UK //mˈʌðələnd// moth·er·land

n. the country where you or your family were born. It is often used to show a strong emotional connection or love for your home country.

n. the country of one's birth or ancestral origin. Often carries a patriotic or sentimental tone; frequently used in political or historical contexts to evoke national identity.


SIMPLE

He returned to his motherland after living abroad for twenty years.

CONTEXTUAL

The poet wrote extensively about the rolling hills and traditions of his motherland, expressing a deep longing for home.

COMPLEX

Expatriates often maintain a complex relationship with their motherland, balancing the cultural heritage of their upbringing with the lived realities of their adopted nations.

Synonyms
Origin

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.

Usage

Usually used with a possessive pronoun like 'my', 'his', or 'their'.

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