old country

noun

1. the original home country of an immigrant or a person's ancestors, especially a European country.

old country

noun

1. the country of origin of an immigrant or an immigrant's ancestors

Other Words From

• old-country adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of old country¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

I have an array of friends who learned later in life that their uncles were really their fathers, that Grandma had a whole other family back in the old country.

From Salon

The players were immigrants or the sons of immigrants, playing a game that was considered a national pastime in the old country but little more than a waste of time in the new one.

From Los Angeles Times

The bulk of Maniscalco’s most recognizable bits revolve around stories about his hairdresser father, Salvo, whose no-nonsense immigrant wisdom is exported from the old country.

From Los Angeles Times

"We don't eat in an old country store for woke burgers," one commenter wrote on Facebook regarding the announcement, while someone else added: "I just lost respect for a once great Tennessee company."

From Salon

As one person wrote, "We don't eat in an old country store for woke burgers."

From Salon