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

You might live in a rural area and bike down old country roads for fun, or you may live in the city and bike to work as a cheap, eco-friendly means of transportation.

From Popular-Science

In the old country, matchmakers would have said Nathan was “such a catch!”

From The Daily Beast

They were rough about it, for no reason, just like they would have been in the old country.

From The Daily Beast

Mohammed Assaf reminded folks of the Old Country in a different time when seniors were respected rather than discarded.

From The Daily Beast

People are people, and people are prone to carry the grudges of the old country with them.

From The Daily Beast

And so much the rest of the story reads more like a police blotter than a saga of good old country music.

From The Daily Beast

So I made him come down with me to Englehart, that dear old country seat of my family in the Western shires which was now mine.

From Project Gutenberg

It was clear that our mission was popular, and clear too that affection for the old country was warm and lively.

From Project Gutenberg

The landlady, clad in a low-necked black dress with long sweeping train, was typical of many we saw in the old-country hotels.

From Project Gutenberg

Somebody left Atterly a pile of money, and he is going back to the old country.

From Project Gutenberg

When I'm given long leave, I'm going to blow 'em out by taking the boy back to the old country.

From Project Gutenberg