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motherland

American  
[muhth-er-land] / ˈmʌð ərˌlænd /

noun

  1. one's native land.

  2. the land of one's ancestors.

  3. a country considered as the origin or source of something.

motherland British  
/ ˈmʌðəˌlænd /

noun

  1. another word for fatherland

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of motherland

First recorded in 1705–15; mother 1 + land

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One pathway toward restorative justice, he said, is that "all the looted artifacts are returned to the motherland."

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

The team has as many members from outside the country’s borders as players born in the motherland.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

Towards the end of the TV marathon, Putin was asked a series of quickfire questions, touching on his views on friendship, religion, the motherland and love at first sight.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025

His 2025 juggernaut, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” however, goes far beyond the usual motherland worship; the album’s greatest takeaway is to cherish not just the place, but the people you call home, too.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

We had missed our chance to become national heroes by helping our motherland.

From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.