1
a(1)
: nationality sense 5a
three Slav peoples … forged into a Yugoslavia without really fusing into a Yugoslav nation—
Hans Kohn
Hans Kohn
(2)
: a politically organized nationality
(3)
in the Bible
: a non-Jewish nationality
why do the nations conspire—Psalms 2:1 (Revised Standard Version)
Psalms 2:1 (Revised Standard Version)
b
: a community of people composed of one or more nationalities and possessing a more or less defined territory and government
Canada is a nation with a written constitution—B. K. Sandwell
B. K. Sandwell
c
: a territorial division containing a body of people of one or more nationalities and usually characterized by relatively large size and independent status
a nation of vast size with a small population—Mary K. Hammond
Mary K. Hammond2
archaic
: group, aggregation
3
: a tribe or federation of tribes (as of American Indians)
the Seminole Nation in Oklahoma
Synonyms
Examples of nation in a Sentence
It's one of the richest nations in the world.
the largest state in the nation
The President will speak to the nation tonight.
The entire nation is celebrating the victory.
Recent Examples on the Web
In a market overwhelmingly dominated by U.S. fare (usually above 80%), last year’s dearth of Hollywood titles inevitably hurt the theatrical market of the smallest Nordic nation, which dropped 5.8% in box office to ISK 1.6 billion ($11.4 million), and 9.8% in admissions to 904,809.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 1 Feb. 2025
As the fifth largest economy in the world that boasts Silicon Valley, Hollywood, world-class beaches, and ski slopes, California exerts an over-sized impact on the entire nation from a cultural, societal, and economic perspective.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
For years, the U.S. government has provided millions of dollars worth of condoms and other contraceptives to foreign countries as a way to help prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV and to make sure that family planning is available in developing nations.
—Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025
It’s been nearly two years since the explosive first season, and while watching a nation on the brink of doom may not sound like a stress reliever after a long day, there’s something cathartic about Peter and Rose giving it their best try to save us all.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nation 
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Annika Pham, Variety, 1 Feb. 2025
As the fifth largest economy in the world that boasts Silicon Valley, Hollywood, world-class beaches, and ski slopes, California exerts an over-sized impact on the entire nation from a cultural, societal, and economic perspective.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 1 Feb. 2025
For years, the U.S. government has provided millions of dollars worth of condoms and other contraceptives to foreign countries as a way to help prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV and to make sure that family planning is available in developing nations.
—Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025
It’s been nearly two years since the explosive first season, and while watching a nation on the brink of doom may not sound like a stress reliever after a long day, there’s something cathartic about Peter and Rose giving it their best try to save us all.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nation
Articles Related to nation
Dictionary Entries Near nation
Cite this Entry
“Nation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nation. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nation
noun
na·tion
ˈnā-shən 
2
: a community of people composed of one or more nationalities usually with its own territory and government
3
: the territory of a nation
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