country

American  

[kuhn-tree] / ˈkʌn tri /

noun

• countries
  plural

1. a state or nation.

   What European countries have you visited?

2. the territory of a nation.

   The country is about 150 miles long.

3. the people of a district, state, or nation.

   The whole country backed the president in his decision.

4. the land of one's birth or citizenship.

   Do I need to return to my country to apply for a student visa?

5. the country, rural districts, including farmland, parkland, and other sparsely populated areas, as opposed to cities or towns.

   Many city dwellers like to spend their vacations in the country.

6. any considerable territory demarcated by topographical conditions, by a distinctive population, etc..

   The mountainous country around here is beautiful.

   The book takes place in the Amish country of Pennsylvania.

7. land considered apart from any geographical or political limits.

   This urban population is packed into a relatively small patch of country.

8. Law. the public at large, as represented by a jury.

9. country music.

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adjective

1. of, from, or characteristic of the country; rural.

   They lived on a winding country road.

2. of, relating to, or associated with country music.

   That Nashville station plays country records all day long.

3. rude; unpolished; rustic.

   He was scorned for his country manners.

4. of, from, or relating to a particular nation or area; national.

   Each team will display their country flag during the opening ceremony.

5. Obsolete. of one's own country.

idioms

1. go to the country, to dissolve a Parliament and call for an election after members have cast a majority vote expressing a lack of confidence in the prime minister and cabinet. Also appeal to the country.

2. put oneself upon the / one's country, to present one's cause formally before a jury.

country British  

/ ˈkʌntrɪ /

noun

1. a territory distinguished by its people, culture, language, geography, etc

2. an area of land distinguished by its political autonomy; state

3. the people of a territory or state

   the whole country rebelled

4. an area associated with a particular person

   Burns country

5. 1. the part of the land that is away from cities or industrial areas; rural districts

   2. ( as modifier )

      country cottage

   3. ( in combination )

      a countryman

6. short for country music

7. archaic a particular locality or district

8. away from the coast or the capital

9. one's native land or nation of citizenship

10. informal the outlying area or area furthest from the finish of a sports ground or racecourse

11. (modifier) rough; uncouth; rustic

    country manners

12. not keeping to roads, etc

13. to dissolve Parliament and hold an election

14. an unfamiliar topic, place, matter, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intercountry
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• countries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of country

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English cuntree from Anglo-French, Old French from unrecorded Vulgar Latin (regiō) contrāta “(area) opposite,” from Latin contr(ā) counter ³ + -āta (feminine of -ātus -ate ¹ ); compare German Gegend “region,” derivative of gegen against

Explanation

A country is a nation, a body of land with one government. Also, rural areas outside cities and towns are called the country. There are many countries in the world: places that have a central government and a common identity. America was once just a bunch of colonies of England. It wasn't until they fought for independence from England that America became a country. Also, "the country" is any place that's away from cities and rural: the country has farms and open spaces. Country life is quieter than city life — except for the early morning roosters.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

country countries

While the legalised system of racism was buried in 1994 when the country held its first democratic election and elected Nelson Mandela as president, its scars remain.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

As search efforts continue, officials fear the disaster will have a big impact on tourism, a major source of revenue for the country.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

She is one of more than 6,000 children who have been treated at a pioneering weight-loss service for the most obese children in the country.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Wright also stressed the importance of fixing Venezuela's electricity sector, with much of the country enduring hours-long power cuts on a daily basis.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

I’m more and more convinced that Bubbe lived in a different country as a child.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

There's also no single shared forecasting model between the two countries; and limited routine sharing on embankment conditions, river-channel changes and sediment.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Beijing said the test launch was "a routine arrangement of China's annual military training", and that "relevant countries were informed in advance".

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

“Surrounded by such countries, Japan is extremely vulnerable” he said, referring to China, Russia and North Korea.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Nepal police began collecting DNA samples from relatives this week to build a database for identifying bodies, while families overseas will be able to submit samples in their home countries.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

First-line antibiotics exist to combat TB, but they aren’t readily available in poor countries.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• community
• land
• people
• public
• region
• society
• state