country

[ kuhn-tree ]

noun

, plural coun·tries.

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 ( def ).

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.

country

/ 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. pastoralrural
   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. up country
   away from the coast or the capital
9. one's native land or nation of citizenship
10. the country informal.
    the outlying area or area furthest from the finish of a sports ground or racecourse
11. modifier rough; uncouth; rustic

    country manners

12. across country
    not keeping to roads, etc
13. go to the country or appeal to the country
    to dissolve Parliament and hold an election
14. unknown country
    an unfamiliar topic, place, matter, etc

Other Words From

• in·ter·coun·try adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of country¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of country¹

C13: from Old French contrée, from Medieval Latin contrāta, literally: that which lies opposite, from Latin contrā opposite

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go to the country, British. 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. vote of no confidence ( def ).
2. put oneself upon the / one's country, Law. to present one's cause formally before a jury.

Example Sentences

The Cuban government on May 8, 2019, detained this reporter for several hours at Havana’s José Martí International Airport after he tried to enter the country.

From Washington Blade

We have -- many of those countries are doing a phenomenal job.

From Washington Post

The report says the HRC Foundation “proactively researched” the LGBTQ-related policies of more than 1,000 hospitals and health facilities across the country that did not participate in the 2020 survey.

From Washington Blade

In a new poll of 13 nations released Tuesday, a median of 15 percent of respondents said the United States had handled the pandemic well, while 85 percent said the country had responded poorly.

From Washington Post

In light of the pandemic, several states across the country now temporarily allow patrons to carry out cocktails to enjoy at home.

From Fortune

In that country at that moment, the Catholics have practically disappeared.

From The Daily Beast

Elsewhere, courts throughout the country have placed limits on speech this year.

From The Daily Beast

“This is a federal mandate that is causing some real problems for schools across the country,” Kline told a CBS affiliate in July.

From The Daily Beast

Charles “Father” Coughlin, a raving anti-Semite, was one of the most popular radio hosts in the country.

From The Daily Beast

It marked a groundbreaking moment in how the country viewed Jews, especially Jewish women.

From The Daily Beast

The country is well inhabited, for it contains fifty-one cities, near a hundred walled towns, and a great number of villages.

From Project Gutenberg

In the drawing-room things went on much as they always do in country drawing-rooms in the hot weather.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing remarkable occurred in our march through this country.

From Project Gutenberg

There are some folk in this country, you know, who manifest a very retiring disposition at times.

From Project Gutenberg

There'll be heaps uh fun in the Cypress Hills country when they get t' runnin' the whisky-jacks out.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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