nation-state

[ ney-shuhn-steyt ]

noun

1. a sovereign state inhabited by a relatively homogeneous group of people who share a feeling of common nationality.

nation-state

noun

1. an independent state inhabited by all the people of one nation and one nation only

Word History and Origins

Origin of nation-state¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Now, its descendent organizations are dedicated to advancing the 20th-century throwback notion of the primacy of the nation-state.

From The Daily Beast

Europe is more post-modern and the U.S. is more modern in the sense that it still adheres to the values of the nation state.

From The Daily Beast

At the same time, however, the State of Israel is the nation-state for the entirety of the Jewish people.

From The Daily Beast

Israel is a nation state like many nation states established as part of the flowering of nineteenth century European nationalism.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, a Jewish nation-state can help develop and promote that message.

From The Daily Beast

Since old China was rarely confronted with international problems, the Chinese were not aware of their realm as a nation-state.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the same sense of community held, at a different scale and with different goals, by the nation-state.

From Project Gutenberg

Together with the nation-state, the modern notion of nationality was defined and became a major force of political life.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, the predicament of the nation-state is such that going back may be the only benign way of going forward.

From Project Gutenberg

The first, that the nation state is far too simple a solution of modern difficulties.

From Project Gutenberg