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
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
Some people want, in the case of the Republic of New Africa, an independent Black nation cut out of the United States.
—Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Far from the constructive ambiguity of the 1992 Consensus, Lai breathlessly argued that Taiwan and China are distinct, autonomous nations, drawing on historical, legal, and identity-based arguments linking the island’s heritage to Austronesian culture, rather than Chinese.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Canvas’ co-chief executive officer Devin Gilmarti spoke of the importance of fashion diplomacy and the idea that creation can unite nations.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
The Southeast Asian nation is embroiled in a civil war with various ethnic groups fighting the military, creating an almost lawless situation in many parts of the country and allowing scam operations to thrive.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nation
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Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Far from the constructive ambiguity of the 1992 Consensus, Lai breathlessly argued that Taiwan and China are distinct, autonomous nations, drawing on historical, legal, and identity-based arguments linking the island’s heritage to Austronesian culture, rather than Chinese.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Canvas’ co-chief executive officer Devin Gilmarti spoke of the importance of fashion diplomacy and the idea that creation can unite nations.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
The Southeast Asian nation is embroiled in a civil war with various ethnic groups fighting the military, creating an almost lawless situation in many parts of the country and allowing scam operations to thrive.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nation
Cite this Entry
“Nation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nation. Accessed 29 Oct. 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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